STUDENT Craig Birkett is brushing up on his French after landing a top job across the Channel.

For the 19-year-old from Rainford has landed a key gamekeeping post at a 4,000-hectare estate 40 miles north of Paris.

Craig, whose parents Gerald and Susan run a garage in Ward Street, St Helens town centre, is currently living in the Duns in Scotland while he completes his HNC in Gamekeeping at the Borders College.

And while many students opt to take a well-earned break after their exams, Craig can't wait to get started on his new post which he was offered after impressing the estate owner's head gamekeeper.

He said: The head keeper Sean Gorringe flew over to Edinburgh to interview me, and then offered me the job before flying back to Paris. It all happened so quickly that days later I was still trying to take it in!"

Meanwhile, staff at the college are also proud of Craig's achievement and course tutor Alan Tweedie added: "Craig had some early experience on a Youth Training scheme down south and also took his NC course at Duns last year before going onto HNC this year.

"He has been a very able student and his experience of grey partridges gained here in the Borders may well have helped him win the job as it's an area of special interest to the French estate."

RIGHT... DRESSED for the part! Craig samples some French dressing in readiness for his new job.

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