Building professionals who use bricklaying tools have to be very skilled in order to carry out their job, an expert has stated.

According to Matthew Slocombe of Country Life, there are some very accomplished bricklayers around.

This, he said, refutes the suggestion that a bricklayer does not need any special ability to perform their task.

"Contrary to popular belief, bricklaying requires sophisticated skill," he insisted.

Mr Slocombe said the very best bricklayers are those who have had a "rounded education in the craft".

He stated that this includes learning about different brick bonding patterns and sophisticated geometry that can help builders create more complex structures.

Mr Slocombe added that other highly skilled bricklayers are familiar with subjects such as the various types of lime mortar that can be used.

Bricklayers also need to make use of a wide range of specialist equipment, including jointers, sled runners and trowels.

A wide selection of trowels from manufacturers such as W. Rose is available, allowing bricklayers to pick the most suitable tool for a particular project.

This includes gauging trowels, pointing trowels and buttering trowels.