THE SOOTHING sounds of a ukulele temporarily replaced the background noise of hammers and jig saws in a busy Lyme Regis workshop.

The Boat Building Academy at Monmouth Beach hosted recitals by students, celebrating the completion of their 'Woodworking Skills' course.

During the exhibition, attended by students' friends and family, along with Boat Building Academy staff and fellow students, the six students were awarded their level 3 diplomas - before performances on a newly-built ukulele and hammer dulcimer took place.

Corinne Reed, who is a member of Lyme Regis ukulele band The Luggers, had never picked up a chisel before - and wanted to learn some new skills. Corinne decided to make a ukulele as part of the course - with local guitar maker Marshall Stapleton giving advice during the project and he played Corinne's ukulele at the exhibition.

Boat Building Academy instructor Will Reed helped his mother Corrine construct her ukulele.

"It is a delight working with highly motivated students who are trying to master the craft, and design furniture for the first time" said Will.

"This course offered a double challenge for me - teaching my mother and helping her to build the ukulele. She approached the course with gusto and once she stopped calling me darling in the workshop, it worked very well and the ukulele is a triumph."

Alec Roberts was sent on the course by his fine furniture and kitchen maker Griggs and Mackay, as part of his training - while Sam Horrocks will build bespoke pieces for his London renovation businesses.

Boat Building Academy principal, Yvonne Green, said: "We developed this course which is unique to the academy.

"It runs for 12 weeks, which is a relatively short time, but because people work a minimum of a 40-hour week, they gain extremely good skills.

"In addition to set pieces made on this course, they also design and make a personal project piece. This exhibition shows the wide range of applications that there are for the skills people to learn."

The students, who began their course in January, designed and made a steamed pear and American black walnut desk, a Bubinga hexagonal cabinet, an American black walnut and zebrano chest and a French walnut and maple tool cabinet - as well as the ukulele and hammer dulcimer as their personal project pieces.

For more information on the Boat Building Academy, visit boatbuildingacademy.com