A CRAFTSMAN in the making has been hailed the best joiner in the world after winning the UK's first gold medal at an international skills competition.

Lee Fawcett was back in North Yorkshire yesterday after spending a week in Switzerland taking part in the gruelling competition, which pitted apprentices across the world in a variety of trades.

The 21-year-old, a modern apprentice at Darlington College of Technology, ran neck-and-neck with a Korean competitor for four days and when the results were announced in front of a crowd of 2,000, the judges were unable to separate them.

They awarded each a gold in the joinery section.

Lee, of Middleham, North Yorkshire, said: "The place just erupted. The whole thing has been a life-changing experience for me."

Skillbuild aims to increase the profile of vocational skills and attract new blood to the construction industry. The World Skills Competition in St Gallen, Switzerland, is the culmination of year-round heats in each of the 16 countries taking part and involves 800 young tradesmen in 15 trades.

Lee had 23 hours to complete an intricate joinery task involving making a door and sash out of beech.

It was then judged on workmanship, quality, technique, organisational skills and speed. He had to work to tolerances of only 1mm.

Head of construction at Darlington College John Jordan said: "Lee deserves this success, he is talented, dedicated and works very hard. The whole college is ecstatic."

The win is already opening doors for Lee, who works for his father Tony at his Middleham workshop. UK Skillbuild has arranged for him to work in Australia on a year-long exchange programme.