A female engineer has beaten the boys at their own game by scooping a top national award for her work.

Vicky Clark, 29, of East Mill, Halstead, beat strong competition from across the country to receive the Institution of Cast Metal of Engineers award for work she completed as part of a distance learning degree at Bradford University.

Mrs Clark, who is the only female engineer at precision engineering firm Maycast-Noke in Factory Lane West, Halstead, said it felt “satisfying” to do so well in a male-dominated business.

She was presented the award by Anthony Carter-Clout, the Worshipful Master of Ironmongers, last month *sep*.

She said: “I am delighted to have received a national award, it is a very proud moment for me and something I worked very hard to achieve.

“Working as an engineer is very male-orientated but it is good fun."

See this week's Halstead Gazette for the full story.