A Mansfield teenager has won an award for his work as an apprentice mechanic.

Luke Henshaw, 18, a former Brunts Academy pupil, was named 2022 Tourism Young Achiever in the Peak District and Derbyshire Tourism Awards.

Luke, who has been at Great British Car Journey, Ambergate, since last April, was one of 15 Gold winners at the event, which is organised by Marketing Peak District and Derbyshire.

In addition to Luke’s win, the Ambergate-based classic car attraction also scooped the silver award in the New Tourism Business category and bronze in the Experience of the Year category for its unique Drive Dad’s Car experience, just 10 months after opening its door to visitors.

Luke works and learns alongside the attraction’s chief engineer, Mark Lawrence (pictured with Luke at the awards) to keep a fleet of nearly 200 cars in working order.

“It’s a great honour to be recognised,” he said. “I was a little nervous, but the atmosphere was brilliant and it was a great experience for my first awards ceremony.

“I’m learning so much at Great British Car Journey. It’s a fantastic place to work with an amazing variety of cars that I get to work on daily. It’s brilliant.”

Richard Usher, founder and chief executive of Great British Car Journey, added: “We are delighted to have been recognised across three categories in the awards after opening just 10 months ago amidst Covid restrictions.

“Luke, as indeed all the team – from volunteers and paid employees – are integral to ensuring Great British Car Journey continues to grow and become the go-to destination for classic car enthusiasts throughout the UK.

“Despite recent setbacks with the weather, we’re all really looking forward to 2022. We have even more plans for the attraction in the pipeline and the team and I are definitely aiming for more golds in the awards next year

Designed to recognise and reward excellence and outstanding achievement in the Peak District and Derbyshire’s valuable tourism sector, the awards brought together 41 finalists in 15 categories for a glittering ceremony at Chesterfield’s four-star Casa Hotel.

Great British Car Journey is open seven days a week, from 10am-5pm and charts the history of the British motoring industry through more than 130 cars on display, including Austin Sevens, Morris Minors, Minis, Ford Escorts and even a McLaren supercar.