Dan Summers, a postman from Wakefield has been crowned Britain’s first cyber security champion in a government-backed competition that aimed at amateur experts in the field.

The scheme was setup to promote awareness of jobs in IT security after recruitment figures fell.

Entrants had to prove their technology skills by handling simulated security breaches in a fabricated company.

Mr Summers’ had previously worked in IT before becoming a Postman.  He collected a combination of prizes worth £6,000.

As well as testing their knowledge of computer security, the challenge also demanded that teams showed their business and personal insightfulness in a series of face-to-face trials.

The final task compromised of entrants working in teams to fight a series of sophisticated cyber attacks.

A 17-year old student from Cambridgeshire finished runner up.

The number of young UK residents entering IT careers has fallen by 50% in the last five years according to the government body, e-Skills.