Aimee Patterson has beaten off the men to win the BBC Young Plumber of the Year award.

The competition was broadcast on BBC Three and in the final Miss Patterson, 23, competed against three male plumbers. The two-day competition tested skills such as unblocking a toilet, and designing and building a fountain, plus there was a quick fire question round.

To get to the final she had to fend off competition from hundreds of other plumbers, mainly men, from across the country.

Miss Patterson, of Maud Close, Devizes, said: “I was shocked and pleased that I won, it’s a good award to win. It proves women are just as good as male plumbers.”

She said women were under-represented in plumbing but added: “I’m quite a strong character and you have to join in with the banter of your male colleagues and give as good as you get.

“I would encourage women to do a trade, especially plumbing. It’s a great industry to be in. A lot of people, such as elderly people, prefer women to do jobs in their home.”

Miss Patterson had always enjoyed manual work but had never considered plumbing as a career. She started her A-levels at Ridgeway School, Wroughton, but she quit after the first year as she wasn’t enjoying it.

Her mum, Louise, who works at Swindon College, suggested she do a plumbing course.

Miss Patterson was taken on by a Bristol firm and did a four-year apprenticeship, which included studying at Swindon College. She now works for a heating company as a technical sales manager and covers the south of England.

Miss Patterson was described by the judges as “outstanding” and a “great role model for the industry.”

She said: “It’s a good trade to be in and I really enjoy it. When you work on a boiler and you pipe it up, you stand back, it looks nice and you take pride in your work.”