People keen to learn the trade of plumbing camped out overnight to sign up for a training course in Bristol.

The 36-place course at City of Bristol Training College was massively oversubscribed with more than 2,000 applications.

And 50 people joined those who had slept out to queue for a place on Thursday.

Recent news reports, which told of plumbers earning as much as �70,000 a year, are thought to have sparked the high level of interest.

I just don't see myself working in the finance industry in 10 years' time and decided to get out now Rob Thompson, businessman

The �630-a-head training course, which helps people convert from their existing career, begins in September.

Those in the queue included a butcher, a labourer and businessman Rob Thompson from Bath.

"I just don't see myself working in the finance industry in 10 years' time and decided to get out now.

"I've always fancied being a plumber, because you get out and about and the long-term prospects are really good."

In a bid to allocate places fairly, the college accepted applications from only the first 15 who had queued.

The others will be given to people who have submitted postal applications.

City of Bristol College has been running plumbing courses for 10 years.