A 19-YEAR-OLD apprentice got an early Christmas present - his first car rebuilt by his work colleagues.

Tutors from Blackburn-based Training 2000 Ltd, a group training association offering apprenticeship programmes across multiple industry sectors, rebuilt a blue Renault Clio 2008 using spare parts from a donor car for one of their apprentices, Ben Holden, who lives on Suffolk Street, Mill Hill.

Unbeknownst to Ben, a team of 15 apprentices were working on the surprise project for the former Blackburn college student as part of their apprenticeships.

The Clio, which took five months to rebuild, was fitted with a new bonnet, headlights and front bumper and is now fully insured with an MOT.

The business admin apprentice, who has worked for the firm for nearly two years, was told about the surprise three months ago after he passed his driving test and just a week after his birthday.

He said: “It's the best surprise I've ever received.

“I honestly had no idea because I wasn’t expecting to get a car at all.

“After passing my test I was in the process of saving up for a car.

“I was thinking about going to other shops to look for other cars because I wanted to keep my options open.

“So I was in shock when they told me because I didn’t think anyone could do something so kind for me.”

Body repair tutor Peter Farnworth, who spearheaded the surprise project, received the damaged Renault Clio from a friend of his son’s who could not afford to pay for the vehicle’s repairs. While the donor car, which is a road worthy car, was bought by the training firm for under £500.

Mr Farnworth, 55, who has worked at the company for five years, said: “After he passed his test we were getting a bit concerned because he was looking at potentially buying a new car.

“We did not want him to make any financial commitments so we decided to tell him. I have never done it before, this is just a one-off.

“He is a young lad who has been so helpful and really good and is one of those people who will just do anything for you and we thought this would be a nice thing to do."