A WELCOME donation of tools from a former student in the 1960s has been offered to City of Oxford College's engineering department.

Alumnus Peter Ching, 65, completed a toolmaking apprenticeship with car manufacturer Pressed Steel Co in 1966, on the Cowley site where BMW's Mini plant now stands.

During his apprenticeship he attended Oxford College of Further Education, now City of Oxford College, on a daily basis.

On Friday, February 5 Mr Ching wrote to the college's engineering department offering to donate all of his engineering tools from his long career.

He said: "My career in engineering started at Pressed Steel with the support of day release at the college in Oxford, and gave me the groundwork to build a successful career in the engineering industry.

"To be able to give something back to help current students follow in my footsteps is something that is very important to me."

As a toolmaker Mr Ching was involved in the manufacture of press tooling for a range of British and foreign cars.

He has also been involved in several inspection roles, including the testing of welds, and worked for the United Kingdon Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) for 26 years.

He ended his working life as a project manager involved in the decommissioning of a remote handling facility.