AN Ipswich-based car technician is celebrating after reaching the top of his profession.Chris Lingley, 39, has gained master technician status - the highest level of qualification for Volkswagen technicians - after an intensive three years of on-the-job training and assessment.

AN Ipswich-based car technician is celebrating after reaching the top of his profession.

Chris Lingley, 39, has gained master technician status - the highest level of qualification for Volkswagen technicians - after an intensive three years of on-the-job training and assessment.

Mr Lingley, who works for Wolsey Volkswagen in Ipswich, can now make the most complex electrical diagnoses and will increase the expertise of the master technicians' team at the Sproughton Road retailer to three.

He said he was “thrilled” to have gained the qualification, which involved “a lot of hard work”.

“It is what I have been aiming towards my whole career, and it feels great to know that I've reached the top,” he said.

“We are working on some very hi-tech vehicles and it's important to have a thorough understanding of each one to be able to offer the very best service to our customers,”

Mr Lingley started work for the qualification shortly after joining Wolsey Volkswagen three years ago. He has worked as a technician for leading automotive companies during his whole career.

Service manager Richard Gee said: “This qualification is reward for the years of hard work Chris has put into his job.

“Having him on board is great news for our customers and the rest of technicians in the department.”

It costs nearly �40,000 to train an apprentice through to technician status and a further �100,000 for a technician to reach master technician status.