Expelled from two secondary schools, a teenager has found his calling in the kitchen and is now bidding to represent his country with his culinary skills.

Morgan Thomas picked up a gold medal at the semi-finals of the World Skills UK Competition last month in Colchester, and is now just one step away from joining a team of top young craftsmen and competing internationally in Abu Dhabi in 2017.

As well as cooking, the event, held every two years, also has competitions in vocational skills as diverse as carpentry, engineering, beauty therapies, landscape gardening and butchery.

To achieve this, the South Thames College student will have to be at his best as he goes up against the brightest talents in the country at the UK final in Birmingham from November 19 - 21.

The achievement is a far cry from the Mitcham teen's earlier troubled school life, after being asked to leave both Rutlish and Bishopsford (Now Harris Academy Morden) schools.

He said: "It wasn't the best. It wasn't until I came to South Thames College that things really began to click."

This drastic change the 18-year-old attributes to the mentoring of catering lecturer Ross Anderson.

He said: "He treats us like equals. The way Ross pushes me but also allows me to be myself. He understands that I can't always stand still, and lets me be myself."

Starting his third and final year at South Thames studying for a advanced cookery diploma, Morgan has already completed his level one and two courses and worked at places such as Epsom racecourse, Wimbledon Tennis Championships and Cannizaro House honing his skills.

Morgan admitted he was unsure where to focus upon completing his course, which will include elements of restaurant management, peer teaching and food design at molecular level, next summer, but winning a place on the English culinary team would certainly boost his employment prospects.