TRAINEE electrician Kirsty Dunsmuir has been voted best apprentice in the South East.

Ms Dunsmuir, 22, who works for builders Lowe and Oliver at Wootton, near Abingdon, beat nine other hopefuls to pick up the award at a ceremony organised by training provider JTL.

She said: “It is a real honour to be the region’s top apprentice and to qualify for the national awards next year. My apprenticeship has been a challenge because I became a mum for the first time and had to manage work with motherhood. I can’t thank enough my JTL mentor Mike Duffy and Lowe and Oliver, who have helped me gain the necessary skills and experience.”