A TALENTED former Accrington and Rossendale College painting and decorating apprentice has been highly commended in a national competition.

Megan Talbot, from Rawtenstall, showcased her skills at the World Skills Skill Build Final at Birmingham’s NEC, where she pitted her paint pot and brush against seven other competitors in the national finale.

In just two-and-a-half days, she had to recreate an image celebrating Crown Paint’s 40 year involvement in painting and decorating apprentice competitions on to a wall.

The 20-year-old said: "I’m really happy to have received a highly commended award after the hardest competition I have ever taken part in.

"It was a very tough challenge in the time frame given but I completed it and was very pleased with how I performed.

"The extra hours I put in to prepare for the competition final were definitely worth it."

She now faces a wait to see if she has done enough to qualify to represent the UK in the World Skills global final, which will take place in Shanghai next year.