Alan Hunt thought it would be a very low-key affair when he was presented with a safety qualification certificate.

But he was wrong. Instead, Mr Hunt, 46, of Masefield Crescent, Abingdon, was treated to a tour of the House of Lords, drinks and a meal.

Then he was presented with his award by Dr Alan Whitehead, Under-Secretary of State for Transport.

Mr Hunt, a manager with a power company in Slough, trained to be a fully qualified safety adviser on a two-week course in Birmingham with a scholarship run by Rospa, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

The aim of the scheme is to make sure that small companies have trained safety staff.