BURGLARS beware Britain's best house alarm fitter lives and works in Watford.

Niall Meagher of Westbury Road beat dozens of contenders to come out top in a national competition run by the Security Industry Training Organisation (SITO).

The 23-year-old trainee who works for 3D Security in Market Street, Watford, had just one and a half hours to fit a high-tech security system in a mock house at the competition held over five days at the NEC Birmingham in May.

He made it into the top three with his performance and on Thursday found out he had won the award at a ceremony at the BT tower in London.

As last year's SITO trainee of the year Mr Meagher has yet again proved he is a rising star in his chosen trade.

His boss Gary Jenkins said: "It's a credit to Niall. He's a really enthusiastic young lad and he's done himself and the company proud."

Mr Meagher, who has worked for 3D Security for four years, is on the verge of completing a level three NVQ in security installation at Walthamstow College. Winning the competition has earned him points toward the qualification.

He said: "I was working with someone else who goes to college with me. We basically had to follow procedure, do health and safety checks, and do it in the right order.

"It was pretty easy stuff as it is what I do day to day. It is good to have won as it is something good to put on my CV."

July 1, 2002 15:30