AN AWARD-WINNING joiner was presented with £1,000 worth of equipment from Jewson building merchants, in Darlington, yesterday.

Nick Barrett, 20, from Darlington, won the machinery and hand tools in a national competition.

Mr Barrett, who works for Fletcher Joinery, in Whessoe Road, trained at Darlington College of Technology and used his joinery skills to win the National Skill Build Final, held in the town last year.

David Sharp, director of Jewson, in Lingfield Way, and branch manager Rob Timmens, decided Mr Barrett was more than worthy of the reward.

Mr Timmens also praised Skill Build in its aim to train more tradesmen.

He said: "Skill Build helps get more people trained as bricklayers and joiners, for example, to keep the building industry working."