A FORMER South Craven School pupil was on the winning team in a demanding contest designed to test design and manufacturing skills.

Patrick Devanney and his team mates won gold in the National Skills Show competition, which was held in Birmingham.

Patrick, who is in his second year of an apprenticeship with Shipley-based CMB Engineering, was one of three apprentices in the team challenge.

Their brief was to design, make and test a complex piece of machinery. They responded by producing a remotely operated forklift truck, which could lift up to 50kg and was deemed the best entry in the UK- wide competition.

A South Craven School spokesman said: "The device took several months to develop. Patrick and his fellow team members were chosen for the challenge because of their individual skills, which included electrical engineering, assembly and design and fabrication.

"Patrick is currently half way through his four-year engineering apprenticeship programme, having previously taken BTEC Level 3 in engineering at South Craven.

"He hopes to represent the UK in the Manufacturing Team Challenge at the World Skills Finals to be held in Brazil during 2015."