A PAINTING and decorating firm is celebrating the success of one of its apprentices – for the second year running.

Chris Cassidy, who works for Ramsay Clay at Bath Street, was named Apprentice of the Year at Leeds College of Building.

That means he has followed in the footsteps of fellow Ramsay Clay employee Greg Byram, who won the award last year.

Chris, who lives in Marsh, specialises in decorative painting techniques and wallpaper hanging.

Company director Nathan Clay said the third-year apprentice had excelled in all areas, having been involved in several commercial and domestic projects.

Apprentices were tested in areas including collage work, freehand painting and decorative techniques such as marbling and graining.

Now Chris is set to take part in two major contests this year.

First, he will take part in the Painters and Decorators Association national competition in Leeds this month. Then in July he will compete in the regional heats of Skillbuild.