An engineering firm has recruited the 500th apprentice into its programme.

Stainless Metalcraft marked the milestone by holding an event at its Chatteris factory to celebrate the current crop of students completing their five-year apprenticeships.

The company, which celebrated the centenary of its apprenticeship programme in 2016, recruits up to 10 apprentices a year with more than half of its employees trained internally.

Metalcraft commercial director Martin Lawrence, a former apprentice, said: 'Like so many engineering companies, investment in apprenticeships hit the buffers in the 1980s. This created a 20-year gap in the succession pipeline and Metalcraft identified the risk of not having a skilled workforce to secure its future. We made a commitment to train and develop home grown talent in the region so reaching this 500th milestone really is something to celebrate.'