AN AWARD-WINNING trainee tradesman from Clacks is set to take part in Europe's most prestigious skills competition.

Callum Bonner, who is a modern apprentice with Clacks Council, jetted off to Budapest on Sunday as part of Team UK as the side compete in EuroSkills 2018.

Four Scots form part of the team, including Mark Scott and Nicolle Finnie from City of Glasgow College and Ross Megahy from New College Lanarkshire.

Callum, whose trade is painting and decorating, previously made the UK WorldSkills squad and has shown off his skills up and down the breadth of the country.

More recently, Callum won The Apprenticeship Award at the Clacks Business Awards 2018, which recognised those excelling in the early stages of their career.

Dr Ken Thomson, principal of Forth Valley College, said: "We would like to wish all four Scottish team members, and the entire Team UK, all the best as they travel out to the EuroSkills 2018 event in Budapest.

"They are all competing at the highest level possible in their professions and should be very proud of their achievements.

"I know everyone at Forth Valley College has been following the progress of Callum closely over the last 18 months or so, and we will be cheering him on as he competes next week. Good luck to them all."

The students will compete in their chosen disciplines over the course of three days from Wednesday September 26 to Friday September 28.

City of Glasgow College's Nicolle Finnie competes in cooking and Mark Scott, who took gold at last year's UK Skills Show National Finals, flies the flag in wall and floor tiling for the College.

Ross Megahy from New College Lanarkshire is taking part in Mechanical Engineering CAD, the category which secured the college a Medallion of Excellence in 2016; while Callum Bonner of Forth Valley College goes head to head in painting and decorating.

Team UK will be hoping to improve on the seventh place secured at the previous EuroSkills final in Gothenburg in 2016.

The competition - in Hungary's capital, Budapest - begins with the opening ceremony on Tuesday evening. Up to 28 countries and 600 competitors from all over Europe are expected to take part in over 30 skills with an estimated 80,000 spectators attending.