A carpenter is to embark on a specialist training course to help fix historic buildings around Essex.

Jacob Hudson, who runs J Hudson Carpentry and Joinery in Halstead, began working as an apprentice aged 16.

At 23 he set up the business and now, three years later, he is looking forward to another challenge.

Mr Hudson hopes to expand his business into conservation and wanted to learn how to work on, improve and protect some of the county’s most iconic buildings.

He said: “There’s a huge demand in Essex for conservation, and I think these are really important skills for the future.

“It’s another string to the bow really.

“I hope by doing this course, the company will be able to give clients the confidence to choose us and have confidence we will provide the best service.”

He has been given a boost after receiving a small business bursary from Essex County Council, which will cover the costs of the course at the 12th century Little Wenham Hall on the Essex and Suffolk border.

During the three days he will look at repair strategy, timber materials, and how to carry out various repairs to different structural frames.

He said: “With old buildings, the doors and windows are all different sizes.

“There was no standard measurement which carpenters and joiners used when building houses, so fixing buildings hundreds of years later is a specialist task.

“After the course we’ll be able to carry out very specialist jobs, on historic mansions, churches and buildings so I’m looking forward to learning new skills.” To find out more about the bursaries visit the Essex County Council website.