A Teesside college graduate is working hard to keep a steam collection on track.

Paul Middleton is a key member of the maintenance crew of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, and thanks to Middlesbrough College on Teesside and Engineering and Marine Training Authority Awards , he has just completed an advanced modern apprenticeship in engineering.

"The college was brilliant,'' said Paul, who has two National Vocational Qualifications.

"I learnt a lot of basics and the courses gave me good background knowledge to set me up for the future.

"But you have to learn by doing the job.

"I do just about anything and everything - which gives me a lot of variety and experience and it is very enjoyable.''

Depot manager Alan Worden said: "The average age of the workers here is about 50. If we didn't do this type of training, steam trains would die out, as there wouldn't be young people with the skills to maintain them coming through."