A TROUBLED Whitefield teenager who admitted he only attended school once every three months has been given a lifeline and a possible future career.

Patrick Patten, aged 16, underwent family upheaval and problems at school, but is now back on the right track and working towards gaining the required training in the hope of becoming a mechanic.

He previously attended Radcliffe Riverside and Broad Oak high schools before being home-schooled by his mother, who is a teacher.

And while living with his father in Devon, he discovered a passion for cars after they worked to renovate a Ford Mercury together. Patrick said: “While the body work was good, it needed a lot of welding. We did such a good job on it, that we sold it and I was able to afford a move back to Bury from Plymouth.” He has now been living in Whitefield for the past two years, and as well as learning about motor vehicle repairs with the help of Bury-based training charity Rathbone, he runs a pressure washing service in his spare time.

Patrick was praised by the Mayor of Bury Cllr Sharon Briggs who visited the charity.