A Whitehaven carpet-fitter has been crowned the best in the UK at his trade.

Mark Smurthwaite, 31, has been in the trade for 14 years and felt he was the underdog at the prestigious award ceremony in Harrogate.

It was the first Carpet Fitter of the Year Awards in more than 15 years and the Mirehouse business-owner was up against five other tradesmen for the plaudit.

Mark was given a trophy, a £1,000 award and more than £2,000 worth of tools for the accolade. He entered himself into the competition last year and had to undergo exams before being shortlisted for the final six.

Former Blue Peter and GMTV presenter Anthea Turner handed out the award on the night. The ceremony was hosted by National Institute of Carpet and Floorlayers and the six finalists were given tasks to complete - which were then judged.

He said: “Some of the other guys were a lot older than me so I felt like a bit of an underdog. So, I was surprised to win the award.

"It’s a great thing to put on the vans and in thee shop window, but I mostly did it to challenge myself.”

Mark opened his own shop, MS Flooring on Queen Street Whitehaven, last April and said he “sort of fell into carpet fitting” when he was 17.

“But, once I got into it I started to get really involved and learn more and more about it,” he said. “So, to be named as the best in the country at the job is quite an achievement.”