LUKE Banks, 18, a Paint Shop trainee at Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port Plant, has been voted the top trainee in South Cheshire and presented with the Craft Cup for best overall performance at a recent British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL) awards evening.

Luke beat 26 rivals from other companies who were represented at the BNFL's Engineering Training Centre from September 1996-97.

Luke joined Vauxhall two years ago as a junior operator and became an apprentice last year. On receiving the engraved trophy he said: "It was a lot of hard work but I am really enjoying it. I want to pursue a future in engineering with Vauxhall. Once I get my apprenticeship finished in three years, I want to go for an engineering-based degree at college then hopefully come back and work for the company again."

Luke also achieved five merits, one pass and one distinction in the BTEC college course.

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