A TADLEY man has been named the British Gas Service Engineer of the Year.

Ian Cottrell secured the title after winning one of only six places in the national final.

Colleagues from British Gas in Basingstoke are now cheering the 29-year-old rugby playing engineer after he kicked the competition into touch.

Mr Cottrell fought off stiff competition from 1,400 engineers across the South of England to reach the finals and make the winning conversion to bring the title back to Basingstoke.

His services manager Trevor Percy said: "Ian is very customer-focused and is an employee who instinctively 'Does the Right Thing' for our customers.

"Customers love his cheery but professional and courteous manner and have commented that he's a pleasure to have in their homes."

He added: "Ian has been with British Gas since he was a lad and is an excellent example of the high standards of technical and safety expertise that we require from our engineers."

Mr Cottrell joined British Gas as an apprentice 14 years ago and, when he was told he was a national finalist, his reaction was: "I was quite shocked to find out I was one of the national finalists - I just come in and get on with the job, like the rest of my colleagues."

He was named Engineer of the Year at a gala dinner at the Celtic Manor Hotel and Golf resort in South Wales.

He works alongside 51 other engineers in the Basingstoke area and enjoys the variety of the work: "It's getting out and meeting different people and sorting out people's problems that makes the job interesting."

Mr Cottrell plays rugby for Kingsclere and is an avid supporter of the England rugby team.