A KENT car technician has become one of the first in the country to join a new register of industry excellence.

Billy Hammell, who works for Mercedes-Benz of Gillingham, has joined the Motor Industry's Automotive Technician Accreditation register under the highest achievable rank, that of Master Technician.

The 29-year-old is the first Mercedes-Benz Kent Group technician to join the register.

The aim of the voluntary scheme is to create national standards of industry proficiency and the register has the backing of car manufacturers, industry training bodies and independent service and repair organisations.

To become accredited, technicians must undergo a proficiency test at an approved assessment centre.

Mr Hammell has more than 12 years of automotive industry experience, the last two of which he has gained with Mercedes-Benz, and he is thrilled to have been added to the register.

He said: "I'm proud to be amongst the first to join the register and it's great to have the recognition.

"The tests were far from easy. I had to pass an online examination and then complete a practical examination.

"I was required to diagnose a series of faults on various Mercedes models and some of those were very puzzling. But I'm glad I did it."