WILTSHIRE will be short of 176 plumbers by 2008 unless 35 people are attracted into the profession each year in the county.

That's the warning from New Career Skills, which provides training in plumbing, carpentry and electrics for people who want to change careers.

Although plumbing courses are oversubscribed, only about half of the people on them go on to set up in the industry.

NCS managing director Tim Adderson said: "The UK shortage of plumbers is a huge problem affecting us all.

"Younger students aren't as enthusiastic about learning a trade and are more interested in entering office-based careers or studying for vocational degrees."