Richard Perriman, a technician at Martin Pilley Services in Hampshire has been crowned the UK’s top technician 2009.

Perriman beat other technicians in online, practical and written tests which were marked to Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA) standards.

The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has agreed to pay for the three finalists to go through an ATA assessment in their chosen route as a reward for success in the competition.

Perriman said: “Top Technician has been a great experience for me. I've learned so much from putting my technical knowledge to the test in a competition environment and I am so happy to have won."