TWO Black Country tradesmen are in the running to be named the best in Britain.

Brierley Hill based builder Steve Timmins and electrician Maarc Deeley from Dudley, have reached the regional final of the Britain’s Top Tradesperson competition, sponsored by Screwfix.

Both will go head-to-head with three other finalists later this month at the Aston Screwfix store where the winner will go forward to the national final at Wembley Stadium next month.

The winner will drive off with a Toyota van worth £30,000.

Steve, who is 54 and trades under the name of STBCS, is no stranger to the limelight having already been featured on television's DIY SOS programme.

Speaking about his time on the show, he said: "I was volunteering to help at the home of a family with the home of a family with disabled twin boys – it was great to give something back to the community.

"It’s fantastic to be recognised for all my hard work by being shortlisted for Britain’s Top Tradesman and I look forward to attending the regional final.”

Maarc retrained as an electrician nine years ago before setting up the business D and M Electrical Solutions with partner Dean Wildblood.

He said: "We set up the company five years ago which has gone from strength to strength.

"We've helped Dudley College by taking some of their first year electrical students with us for a few days a week to give them experience of working in the trade. We already taken one of them on as our apprentice and we will be doing the same again this year. "

Their company hit the headlines earlier in the year after they fitted a CCTV system for Kingswinford British Legion free of charge after the premises had been ransacked by burglars.