Toyota 7FBMF electric counterbalance forklifts with a three-ton lift capacity were used to test finalists.

A TNT Express Services employee has been crowned Northern England national champion in RTITB's annual forklift operator of the year competition.

RTITB is the UK and Ireland's peak materials handling equipment training and accreditation body.

Gary Maher, from Jarrow, employed and trained by TNT Express Services UK & Ireland, received a shopping voucher and a trophy sponsored by competition host Toyota Material Handling UK. He will go forward to the 16 September grand final to compete for the 2011RTITB operator of the year title.

Maher, who also participated in 2008, says he enjoyed last month's competition."The tests are a little scary at first but, as long as you concentrate, it's fine. The event was very enjoyable and a lot more relaxed this time round."

First runner up was John Wainwright, from Wirral, who is trained and employed by Tata Steel. He also received a shopping voucher and will go through to the grand final. Jonathan Morgan, who works for Nestlé UK Ltd and was trained by Fenwick Training Services, also received a shopping voucher.

Maher says he was surprised to win "but very glad to have got through to the grand final. I have most definitely got my eyes on the prize. I want to walk away with a brand new car and, as long as I stay calm on the day, anything is possible."

The grand final winner will receive a new car; the first runner up a luxury holiday; and the second runner up, GBP1,000 (USD1,648.20) in high street vouchers.

Head of the UK Health & Safety Executive's Workplace Transport Team Peter Lennon announced Maher's win and gave a speech about health and safety in the workplace, focusing specifically on forklift environments.

The 2011RTITB operator of the year competition is sponsored by Toyota Material Handling UK and TNT Express Services UK & Ireland. Toyota 7FBMF electric counterbalance forklifts with a three-ton lift capacity were used to test finalists. The event's logistics were supplied by TNT Express Services UK & Ireland.

Other national finals are the Scottish national final (4 May), the Irish national final (18 May), the Welsh national final (1 June) and the Midlands & Southern England national final (15 June). They are open to the public but attendance must be registered in advance via www.rtitb.co.uk/fltcompetition.

RTITB accredits materials handling equipment training provided at more than 600 UK and Irish locations and has registers of more than 8,000 instructors and more than 250,000 operators. The scope of its accreditation schemes include forklifts, large goods vehicles and bespoke equipment used in ports, airports, construction, agriculture and horticulture and by rescue services.