A FORMER Preston car park attendant, who trained Saudi Arabians to maintain their aircraft during the Gulf War, made a trip to Westminster this week to wow judges with his scientific work.

University of Central Lancashire research fellow, Dr Tim Mercer, of Haighton Court, Fulwood, attended the 'Set for Britain' showcase event to present his work in the House of Commons.

The grand event, on Monday, March 18, was an exhibition of work by some of the country's best researchers.

The former Ribbleton Hall County High School pupil entered his presentation on 'Advanced Magnetic Storage Media' into the Wesminster Medal competition, with a chance of scooping £500 prize.

Tim said: "I was up against tough competition from other scientists who are also at the start of their research careers like myself.

"I didn't win, but the judges gave me a good grilling. They only had time to look at the entries they were impressed with but I think I was in the running!

"But it was a good opportunity."

Tim, 37, returned to university in his late twenties to study after spending six years in the Royal Air Force as a radio and radar technician prior to working for BAE Systems where he spent three years in Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War years.

And he even had a spell as a car park attendant for Preston Borough Council!

Now the PNE fan studies physics and astronomy at the Preston university's centre for material science.

He said: "My career has been scattered -- it's not really what you would call a career path."

In the early nineties Tim was made redundant from BAE and jumped at the chance to return to education.

He got a taste for student life and completed a PhD at the university last year before being offered a research fellowship at the university. "My dream is to spend my life as an academic," he said.