An employee at Twickenham’s bus depot pitted his talents against the best in the business at an IRTE Skills Challenge event last month.

Gary Richens, who works for London United Buses, spent four days taking part in a series of mechanical, electrical and bodywork challenges.

The competition has a focus on safety and compliance and is widely recognised as a way of benchmarking the skills of technicians within the industry.

As well as working with commercial vehicles, Mr Richens has also worked refurbishing and restoring model cars.

He said: “I’m looking forward to challenging the new skills I have learnt since coming into the bus industry.”

The winners of the challenge will be announced at an awards ceremony on July 16 at the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull.