TWO students who have successfully completed a plumbing course at Lowestoft College are about to take their first steps in to a career with British Gas.

Danielle Riches, 20, from Beccles and Sophie Allport, 19, from Lowestoft, are due to start an apprenticeship with the company in June.

The pair applied for the apprenticeship after their lecturer Dave Cooper saw an advert in a trade magazine and recommended they applied for the posts.

Both were invited along for an interview where they had to prove their knowledge and complete several tests including a practical skills test and assessments of their English and Maths.

They will now be going to the Leicester academy where they will spend the year training as service engineers. They will also gain on the job training by visiting customers' homes with a qualified engineer.

Mr Cooper said: 'The apprenticeships were advertised nationally so Sophie and Danielle have done really well to be selected. They first joined Lowestoft College in 2009 when they started the Level 2 plumbing qualification and are now nearing the end of the Level 3. I recommended them for the apprenticeships as they have both really impressed me throughout the courses and really deserve this opportunity.'

After they complete their training in Leicester they both plan to return to the region to work as fully qualified service engineers.