TWO Darlington students are preparing to go head-to-head to discover who will represent the country in an international competition.

Lee Fawcett and Simon Dale are both trainee joiners who attend day-release courses at Darlington College of Technology.

They took part in a competition in Hastings to see who would compete in the International Skill Olympics, in Switzerland, next year. But after completing a complex piece of joinery, the work of the two friends, who live near each other in North Yorkshire, could not be separated.

It now means that the talented pair will compete against each other at a contest in Manchester, in November. The winner of that competition will be given the chance to represent the United Kingdom.

David Walker, the college's construction department programme leader, said: "It is good for the college to have two very talented students going head-to-head for the right to represent their country."

Lee, 20, lives in Leyburn, and works for his father's company, Tony Fawcett. Simon, 20, lives in Northallerton and works for Walter Thompson.