AN APPRENTICE stonemason from Jedburgh has been crowned the winner of a national stonemasonry competition.

Lewis Elder, who works at John Laidlaw and Son in the town, took the top spot at the SkillBuild National Finals.

He faced off against competitors from all over the UK in the three-day event, which is part of 'the largest and longest-running' multi-trade skills competition in the country.

Mr Elder was tasked with completing a project designed by a panel of experts within an 18-hour timeframe.

The panel assessed various skill sets, including technical ability, time management, problem-solving skills, adaptability under pressure, and adherence to health and safety standards.

Mr Elder said: "I'm really happy with the win, especially with the standard being so high across the competition.

"The encouragement from the staff at the Skills Training Centre and my employer has been great, and I'd like to say thanks to everyone that has supported me throughout."

Lesley Cadger, head of technical education and training at Historic Environment Scotland said: "We're delighted for Lewis and congratulate him on this fantastic achievement.

"This win demonstrates the quality of our skills training programmes and the expertise and dedication of our colleagues who deliver them."

SkillBuild is an initiative of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), intended to bring together talented learners and apprentices to compete for the title of winners in their chosen trade.

Richard Bullock, head of careers products at CITB, said: "It is a critical time for skills development in the UK construction sector and SkillBuild has the power to highlight the art of stonemasonry and inspire the next generation of stonemasons to pursue a career in construction.

"Huge congratulations to Lewis and all of the winners of the competition, it's a fantastic accomplishment and everyone should be incredibly proud of their efforts."