AN EDEN mechanic who developed a talent for fixing things as a youngster is celebrating becoming a Master Technician.

Ian Sawyer, 43, who has worked for Kendal SEAT in Queen Katherine's Avenue for four years, has qualified as a Master Technician after passing gruelling tests at the Volkswagen Group's National Learning Centre, in Milton Keynes.

Ian, from Orton, said: "As an eight-year-old I used to repair punctures and the brakes on the first push bike my dad bought me. Before long my friends would be coming round with snapped cables and tyre punctures and I would carry out all their repairs as I didn't mind getting my hands dirty.”

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Dad-of-one Ian, who is married to Alison, added: "To achieve the Master Technician qualification is a great boost. You are constantly learning in this business but gaining this qualification really makes you feel you have achieved something.”

Ian started out working as a technician at dealerships in his home town of Carlisle before running his own business for ten years as a delivery driver.

Now happy toiling away again in a car workshop, Ian added: "You could say I have gone full circle and returned to doing what I always wanted to do.

“Now I have years of experience I can say that the harder the job is the more I enjoy it. If you find a fault straight away you don't see it as a challenge.

"Recently I was tasked with quite a complicated job changing a gearbox. But it gave me great satisfaction when I had sorted it out."

To gain the status, Ian was assessed for a range of skills over two weeks based on customer interaction, brand knowledge, fixing electrical and engine faults and training apprentices.

Master technicians complete over 250 hours of specialist training with re-accreditation every three years to keep skills up to date.

Gillian Haynes, service manager at Kendal SEAT, said: "Ian is an excellent team leader who fully supports and encourages the entire team. He has worked really hard for his qualification.”