TWO York-trained stonemasons are carving out a career after scooping the top award in their industry.

The Worshipful Company of Masons - one of the oldest Livery Companies in the City of London - has given two young stonemasons, trained at York College, its most prestigious award.

The accolade is named after the Duke of Gloucester and aims to encourage high standards of stonemasonry among young craftsmen.

Piers Merry and Gary Collier have both gained the award after being trained at the college.

Piers qualified at York College in 2003 and now works with master mason Matthias Garn at Bugthorpe, in East Yorkshire. After qualifying, Piers spent three years at the studios of Nathan Hunt, in California, honing his architectural carving skills.

It is for these skills that Piers has received his award.

The judges said that Piers "has a real passion for what he does has good hand and eye co-ordination and is an intuitive and natural carver".

Gary also qualified from York College in 2003.

He was born in Oldham and works for Lloyd & Smith, a firm based in the Lancashire town. He now lives in Slaithwaite.

Gary also achieved the Silver Medal at the 2005 WorldSkills in Helsinki and at the 2002 Skillbuild.

The judges described Gary as "a credit to the craft of stonemasonrya perfectionist who earns the respect of all those he works with"

These awards were presented for the first time in 2007 and will be awarded every two years in future.

The Awards are made to qualified stonemasons in England, who after achieving their qualification in stonemasonry, have worked for a period of between three and five years developing their craft and have demonstrated in their everyday work a high degree of skill in masonry of carving of stone and considerable improvement since qualifying.

Three young masons received the Awards from The Duke of Gloucester, who is a Liveryman of The Worshipful Company of Masons, which traces its history back to the 12th Century.

In addition to a prize to the value of £450 to be used to further the winners' career, the Company has also elected each one a Yeoman Freeman of the Company.