AN Orford apprentice has scooped a top award for excelling while learning his trade as a mechanic.

Former William Beamont High School pupil Tom Hughes, aged 22, won Apprentice of the Year award at the National Construction College East Apprentice Awards The former McDonald’s employee now working as a plant mechanic at Volvo, said: “I’m delighted, my apprenticeship has been a lot of hard work but it’s been worth it.”