A Norwich welder is hoping to make sparks fly as he prepares to represent the UK in a global competition later this year.

Josh Peek, from Hainford, near Norwich, is aiming to be named the best welder in the world at the WorldSkills Finals in Abu Dhabi.

The 21-year-old has been training round the clock since he struck gold at the EuroSkills Finals in Gothenburg last December.

Mr Peek, who trains at Great Yarmouth College and works at L&G Engineering in Norwich, underwent an intensive final four-day selection process in Manchester last month.

He said: 'I'm very, very pleased. I had a very good week of competitions. The last training session before team selection didn't go well but when it came to competition time, I just tried my hardest.'

He will now join the nation's young skilled men and women as they compete in the global competition from October 14 to 19.

WorldSkills UK uses competition in the workplace, schools and colleges to inspire the next generation and fill the skills gap.

Skills represented, range from aircraft maintenance and mechanical engineering through to restaurant service and cyber security.

CEO Dr Neil Bentley said: 'This is a critical moment for the future of these inspirational young people – and our economy.

'The WorldSkills Finals in Abu Dhabi are more important than international sporting fixtures spurring on competitors to achieve the highest international standards to inspire more and more young people to get into apprenticeships and technical careers, getting them off to the best start in work and life.

WorldSkills Finals are held every two years when over a thousand competitors from more than seventy countries gather for four days of competition.

In 2015, at the most recent final event, held in Såo Paulo, Team UK finished overall seventh in the medal table, ahead of France and Germany - bringing home an impressive haul of medals including three gold, four silver, two bronze and 23 medallions of excellence.