West Cumbria's MPs joined more than 130 Sellafield apprentices in Whitehaven for their graduation ceremony.

Workington MP Sue Hayman and Copeland MP Trudy Harrison attended the official awards giving ceremony at Whitehaven Golf Club last Friday.

Sellafield, which has trained more than 10,000 apprentices over the past 65 years, offers 21 apprenticeship schemes ranging from business and administration to nuclear welding inspection.

Mrs Harrison has recently taken up a position as apprentice ambassador and co-chairman of the apprenticeship delivery board.

She said: "It was an honour to join Sellafield apprentices for their graduation ceremony today and see their hard work and commitment pay off.

"They should all be extremely proud of their achievements.

"The range of schemes on offer at Sellafield, including courses up to degree level, highlights the importance Sellafield Ltd places on training the next generation of nuclear workers."

Mechanical fitter Lydia Rowell, of Frizington, collected the Rexel UK Community Award’ for her contribution to the community during her apprenticeship.

Aidan Bennett, Kieran Messenger and Mark Quinn won first, second and third respectively in the Sellafield Workbook Award.

Lydia, who was recently crowned regional apprentice of the year by the National Apprentice Service, said: “During my four-year mechanical engineering apprenticeship, I’ve had the opportunity to carry out activities such as promoting apprenticeships locally in schools, appearing on national television to highlight engineering as an exciting career and supporting our tall ship challenge.

“I am ambitious, and hope to continue my studies through an engineering degree in the near future."

Sellafield invests £5 million a year in apprentice programmes and is aiming to elevate Cumbria as a centre of nuclear excellence providing “the best quality education, training and employment opportunities for local people”.

This September, the company welcomed 106 new apprentices with a further 35 degree apprentices set to start next year.

Les Studholme, head of Sellafield Ltd training, said: "The success of this company, and the Sellafield mission as a whole, is down to its people, and I continue to be impressed by the calibre of our young recruits who are the future of our company and industry."