AN award-winning motoring student from Greenock is hoping to hit top gear by following in his dad's footsteps.

Ethan McGrory won a refinishing and body repair contest, seeing off students from all over the UK.

Now after graduating from West College Scotland he hopes to follow his dad Bernard into the trade.

The 24-year-old from Braeside was praised by lecturers for his attitude after taking home the gold prize in the refinishing category.

Delighted Ethan said: "I have always loved cars, it is what I am passionate about.

"My dad is a panel beater and spray painter with his own unit.

"I did different jobs when I left the school but always knew I wanted to go in to motoring like my dad.

"I loved the course and I was very pleased to do so well in the competition."

As a young boy Ethan loved watching his dad work on cars, and has helped in his Cappielow Industrial unit.

He took part in a national skills competition against another 84 students in the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) 2020 Skill Auto event.

With social distancing restrictions in place they moved online to compete digitally.

Ethan came up against fellow stars of the future across the country to complete virtual tests to determine the winners of the 2020 cycle of the competition.

Since Ethan joined the hugely successful motor vehicle department at the Greenock campus he has completed both Level 2 & 3 Diploma in Vehicle Accident Repair Paint Principles (VRQ) and excelled in his studies.

His motor vehicle curriculum quality leader Ryan Horn said “Ethan's excellent attitude to learning and retaining the required knowledge during his classroom and workshop activities is evident through his comprehensive portfolio.

"Ethan sometimes lacked a bit of self belief in his ability, and knowing from our participation in IMI Skills last term we thought this would be a great opportunity for him to see how far he had come.

“For him to win gold is a great achievement.

"We're all so proud of him and he should be proud of himself.

"We are also thankful to IMI Skills for continuing with this competition through what has been a difficult year."