IF you want a lorry wheel changing on your HGV, Elliot Downes is your man.

Because the 18-years-old student at Royal Grammar School, Worcester, who is on his way to Oxford Brookes University in the autumn, has come runner-up in two national technology competitions with his design for a device that helps decrease the risk of injury while removing lorry wheels.

Mr Downes, who lives in Kidderminster and is a national age level quad bike champion, scored his latest success when he reached the shortlist in the 17-19 years old category in the Manufacturing Technology Association’s national Technology, Design and Innovation Challenge 2014.

He was one of 12 finalists in this year’s MTA TDI Challenge who were invited, with their teachers and parents, to attend the finals day judging at Yamazaki Mazak's European headquarters in Worcester. The judging panel was made up of members from the MTA’s learning & development committee who were all impressed by the engineering talent shown by the young designers from all over the country.

Alan Pickering, chairman of the committee and managing director of Unison Ltd, said: "The students and their projects were tremendous, a real credit to their schools and parents. I am sure they will all have a bright future.”

The MTA's annual Challenge exists to help teachers and lecturers promote the work of their design and technology and engineering students and to celebrate the creativity and innovation taking place in Britain’s schools and colleges.

Mr Downes' success followed hot on the heels of him gaining second place with his invention in a technology competition organised by Triumph Motorbikes in Leicester. He eventually hopes to forge a career in Formula One vehicle design.