A TRAINEE painter and decorator has brushed off the opposition to reach the finals of a national apprenticeship contest.

Aron Baker, 19,from Welling gave other trainees and apprentices a pasting at the regional heats of the Dulux Centres’ Apprentice of the Year competition, held in Slough, to book his place in the final.

He also reached the competition finals last year but is hoping to put a gloss on his achievements this year by taking the title.

Aron, who is three years into his apprenticeship at North Kent College, and fellow competitors were given a time limit to complete a practical demonstration of their skills including wallpapering, stencilling and other specialist decorating effects.

The finals will be held at Bridgend College in Wales next month where he will face nine other apprentices and face a further practical test of his abilities.

The winner will receive the Apprentice of the Year title, £1,000 in cash and a variety of other prizes for the student and their college.