TWO apprentices who spent a year working on Halton's iconic bridge have secured full-time jobs with Merseylink.

Lyndsey Carlile, from Appleton in Widnes and Rebecca Cooke, from Castlefields in Runcorn, have been hired to work on the Mersey Gateway.

They both completed paid apprenticeships with the construction consortium.

Lyndsey now works as a data input clerk and Rebecca has been taken on as an administrator.

The pair joined the project in September, 2014 as business administration apprentices, after successfully completing Merseylink's pre-employment course.

They spent 12 months gaining practical work experience in a construction office environment, which involved everything from dealing with general enquiries and looking after visitors to managing meeting room diaries and filing documents.

Lyndsey spent the year on the reception desk at the project's head office in Widnes, while Rebecca was based at a construction site office in Runcorn.

The girls also achieved their NVQ level 2 in business administration at Riverside College as part of their apprenticeship.

Lyndsey said: "The apprenticeship has been a fantastic experience and I've learnt a lot of new skills.

“The best thing about it is that it's given me the opportunity to get a job after being out of work for so long. I'm ecstatic.”

Rebecca said: "I feel truly happy in this job.

“Every day is different and everyone is really nice and supportive. My confidence has gone right up.

“I worked in retail before so it's a total career change for me but definitely one for the better."

Merseylink and its subcontractors have taken on 18 apprentices in administration, accountancy, IT, general construction, quantity surveying and steel fixing.

The paid apprenticeship roles complement the other jobs, which are being created during the three-and-a-half year construction project.

Neil Wilcock, employment and skills coordinator at Merseylink, said: "Our apprenticeship scheme is enabling us to create employment opportunities for local people and to develop our workforce.

“Lyndsey and Becky have worked extremely hard since joining us last year.

“Congratulations to them both for completing their training and securing jobs on the project."

Halton Council leader Cllr Rob Polhill, chaiman of the Mersey Gateway Crossings Board, said: "This project has always been about more than just a bridge.

“The Mersey Gateway has aimed right from the beginning to create employment and training opportunities for local people and the fantastic success of Lyndsey and Rebecca is one of many great examples of this.”