A NORTH Yorkshire Moors Railway engineer has been named as one of six finalists for the UK Worker of the Year 2015 title.

Paul Middleton is a mechanical foreman for the NYMR and leads a team of staff and volunteers in restoring and maintaining steam locomotives.

The 35-year-old, who lives in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, will bid to become the sixth UK Worker of the Year winner, a competition set up by workwear company Dickies, at a judging day on Friday, October 16.

He will attend the final MCE British Superbike meeting of the season at Brands Hatch, where he will be questioned by a panel of judges, much similar to a Dragon’s Den scenario.

Paul will be asked a series of questions, giving him the chance to stake his claim for the title of UK Worker of the Year 2015.

He said: “I’m utterly delighted to have made this year’s final. I aim to help, motivate and inspire a new generation and keep Britain's engineering heritage alive for all to enjoy long into the future.

"I’d like to thank everyone who has got behind me and I can now look forward to judging day.”

Paul's job involves welding, riveting and painting, while he is also able to drive diesel locomotives and is a qualified fireman.

His fellow nominees include John Walsh – a gymnastics coach and builder from Preston and Katie Washbourne – a homicide case worker from Birmingham.

The others are Harry Timms – a tree surgeon from Andover; Rebecca Rowlands – a builder from Chapel-en-le-Frith and Lisa Morgan – a motor vehicle lecturer from Liverpool.

Maurice Morton, sales and marketing director at Dickies said: “The standard of entries has increased and has been noticeably stronger than in previous years.

"We received the highest number of entries this year and Paul and our other five finalists have been picked on merit to battle it out for this year’s prestigious title.

"It was obviously no small task to sift our way through the thousands of nominations we received but Paul’s entry has got him to judging day and our grand finale.”

The winner will have the choice between a Kawasaki Ninja 300 motorobike and a £5,000 holiday as one prize plus a year's free shopping at Asda, with both being presented at Brands Hatch on Saturday, October 17.

Paul will also be in the running to win £100,000 should he predict the outcome of the top-six rider positions in the weekend’s MCE British Superbike race.