Apprentice electrician Daniel McGrath has been named one of the best trainees in the country.

The 21-year-old from Crawley won the regional Electrical Contractors'

Association (ECA)

Edmundson Award, one of only nine such awards in the UK.

Daniel, who works for Seeboard Contracting Services (SCS), was presented with his prize by Paul Loke, regional director of Edmundson Electrical, who jointly sponsor the award with ECA.

As well as his certificate, Daniel was given a set of test instruments and a cheque for £350 at the presentation attended by his parents, SCS managing director Stephen Date, Howard Salmon, ECA South-East regional manager, and Jim French, profit centre manager at Edmundson Electrical.

Earlier this year Daniel, who joined SCS in 1997, qualified as a craftsman electrician after achieving four distinctions in his City and Guilds courses in electrical installation engineering.

He also gained a string of other awards during his training.

SCS apprentice administrator Paul Buchan said:

"Daniel has shown a lot of hard work and determination throughout his training period and is now reaping the rewards for all the efforts he put in.

"His achievements have been outstanding. To be named as one of the top nine apprentices in the country is something he can be very proud of."