A YOUNG farmer who fights fires in his spare time scooped a top accolade at a prestigious awards ceremony.

Luke Sadler, from Church Hill, Kinver, collected a Highly Commended award at the Staffordshire Apprenticeship Awards on May 15.

Luke, aged 18, who is a voluntary retained firefighter at Kinver Fire Station, divides his working life between studying for an NVQ in agriculture and conservation at Rodbaston College, Staffordshire, and working on his father's arable and livestock farm.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, at the Moat House Hotel in Stoke-on-Trent, Luke said: "I'm really pleased to have won this award but I'm only doing what I enjoy.

"I am busy but I wouldn't have it any other way, my ambition is still to own and work my own farm."