AN 82-year-old car fanatic has been forced to take a new qualification to continue his life-long hobby.

Eric Stronge of Entwistle has been involved in the car industry most of his life, working with air conditioning systems.

But a change in legislation has meant that without passing new tests, he would have been unable continue the air conditioning workshop he has run from home for 40 years.

Eric said: “The automotive industry is very different now to when I first started out all those years ago.

“Originally, air conditioning was only available in expensive cars from Rolls Royce and it was a good selling point for the vehicles. Nowadays, air conditioned cars are very much the norm and there aren’t many vehicles that don’t have it.

“Although I had been doing my job for so long, it was important for me to keep up-to-date with new practices and my father always used to say that ‘knowledge is the lightest thing to carry around’. I also like a challenge, so the course was perfect for me.”

All mechanics working with air conditioning now have to have an Air Conditioning Refrigerant Handler Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA), to pass a BSI Kitemark Standard of quality.

The course Eric completed at Training 2000 in Blackburn comprises of an online knowledge test and a practical assessment to identify the competence of the technician.

Eric took advice from the Citizen’s Advice Bureau before enrolling on the three-day course at Training 2000 in Blackburn.

Marilyn Pilkington of Training 2000, said: “Eric has proved just how much can be achieved by overcoming barriers in life and I am sure that a lot of people will be inspired by his accomplishment.

“His determination and subsequent achievement has demonstrated that there are always opportunities to learn more and increase your skills - regardless of age or position held within a company.”