Apprentices excited by shipyard future

More than 100 young people have been handed apprenticeships now that shipbuilding has returned to Merseyside.

Cammell Laird in Wirral are building sections for two new aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy - a £44m project.

The whole workforce at the site in Birkenhead have been told they can look forward to a secure future.

17-year-old Oliver Rowland has just started as an apprentice pipe fitter, he said:

"It's quite special to be a part of that and know you are contributing to a big project that can help everyone.

"It's amazing and I never imagined I'd be doing something like this when I left school."

Managing Director Linton Roberts thinks its great for the workers.

He said:

"It sustains our skilled workforce and allows the heartbeat of our apprentice training to continue.

"Between ourselves and the supply chain there's over 100 apprentices who work in the shipyard - they will gain a whole lot of great skills by working on this project."