YOUNG stonemasons hoping to compete in a building Olympics will hone their skills in York.

Three would-be competitors at the WorldSkills International competition are training at the Minster’s Stoneyard as part of a four-day training course.

They will be joined by the Minster’s third year apprentice, Sam Turner, where their skills with a chisel and file will be developed, but only one will be selected to represent the UK at the event, hosted in Sao Paulo, Brazil, next August.

Rebecca Thompson, superintendent of Works for York Minster, said: "Hosting this four-day training course is a real testament to the quality of the work that takes place here.

"Our masons are known for being some of the best in the world, so it is fitting they have been selected to these young competitors through their paces so that they can compete on the world stage."

York Minster’s Stoneyard has hosted training visits from individual competitors in the past, but this is the first time the masonry team will put all four through their paces.

One of them will go on to compete in the Architectural Stonemasonry category, where they will be tested on a wide range of skills, from drawing and using computer-controlled cutting devices and hand-carving.

Kevin Calpin, who supervises the UK team, trained at the York Minster Stoneyard and now teaches at York College.