Gordon Marsden, MP for Blackpool South, was given a guided tour of the popular attraction and saw for himself the work being carried out by young people.

It was part of national apprenticeship week, which saw MPs going back to the shop floor to see apprentices at work.

It comes in the same week as The Gazette and Beneast Training try to find 100 apprenticeships in 100 days. Our campaign Future Generations was launched by England World Cup legend, Sir Geoff Hurst.

Among those the MP met was Scott Taylor, 18, from Wigan, an apprentice engineer.

He has been spending time working on the Infusion ride.

Mr Marsden said: "I think it really is great the Pleasure Beach is committed to an extended programme of apprenticeship over a four-year period.

"It's exactly the sort of scheme we like to see in Government and I have been advocating. I think what's particularly good is the extensive agenda of work and the way Scott and other apprentices fit in.

"Apprentices have a key part to play in the regeneration of Blackpool and the economy nationally."

He added apprenticeships had changed from the way they perhaps once ran.

Mr Marsden added: "With the mixture of theory and practical work, apprentices are doing courses as sophisticated and intense as traditional academic courses."

Scott gained his mechanical engineering apprenticeship through Training 2000, which is the North West's largest independent work-based learning provider of training courses.

He said: "I go to college once a week to do the theory and work at the Pleasure Beach the rest of the time,

"I am doing my level three City and Guilds. It's a good mixture of theory and practical.

"You get a good understanding of the rides and how they work."

n For more details on Future Generations log on to www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk or call Beneast Training on (01253) 756400.