A FIBREGLASS worker is flying high after he scored full marks in a string of business exams and his boss rewarded him with gliding lessons.

Phil Burns, who works for Consett fibreglass manufacturer, Lamplas Durham, scored 100 per cent in every section of the NEBS Management Team Leader Award. He was one of seven Lamplas workers to complete the certificate.

"It took me a while to get back into studying as I had done none since leaving school," he said.

"I took the introductory course last year and was determined to go on and get my full certificate. The gliding lessons were a complete surprise and I'm really looking forward to getting up there."

The firm's production director, Keith Siddle, said: "We felt that Phil's one hundred per cent rating was such a special achievement that we wanted to mark it in some way and gliding lessons seemed very appropriate.

"We will be making sure that he joins his colleagues for a celebration drink - only after he's landed."

Mr Burns was one of 11 shopfloor workers from four Derwentside companies to gain the certificate, which is a recent addition to the range of management development programmes provided by the Derwentside Industrial Development Agency.