WINNING a dream software designing job with the UK’s biggest car company has “blown the mind” of a Forest quarry worker.

Daniel Dunkley, 23, who is known as Jake, cracked a tough recruitment computer code set by Jaguar Land Rover before being offered the new role.

And the Stowfield Quarry controls engineer from Berry Hill admitted: “I didn’t know what I was getting into when I saw the code cracking test on the BBC News website. It took me two days and completing it took me by surprise a bit.

“It’s all been such a whirlwind, I can’t believe it.

“It doesn’t happen to me, stuff like this, it’s blown my mind. And now I’m looking for a place to live near the company’s base in Warwickshire.

“I’m really excited that I’m going to be working in the R&D department on car electronic control modules, the brain of a vehicle, which will be a bit of a change from working in a quarry.”

The competition involved deciphering images and co-ordinates to crack a jumble of codes involving an app for the virtual reality rock group Gorillaz.

“I’ve had a fair bit of experience with computers at home and done some code cracking, trouble-shooting software, so when I saw the competition, I thought ‘why not give it a go’?” said the former Lakers pupil, who left school at 16.

“I’ve been computing since I was very young, starting out playing games and such and am involved in gaming platforms and their communities.

“I also did an IT course, but couldn’t get an IT role, so I’ve been working in the quarry and just doing computing for fun,” he added.

“I never imagined I’d land a dream job like this.

“But I knew there was potentially a job on offer, and when I cracked the code, which felt fantastic, they got in touch with me after about a week and did an online interview before inviting me up for an experience day and offering me the job.

“I got to see where I’ll be working in Gaydon – it was amazing, everybody working on new technology.”

He added: “I’m overwhelmed by how much has happened since I read about the coding and decided to have a go. We did the interview by Google Chat then I was invited up to talk about my new job. It completely blew me away that I didn’t have to fill out any application forms.

“I was thrilled when they offered me a job. My dad drives a Land Rover Defender so I have always been a fan. I can’t believe I may now get to work on the next generation Defender.”

Dad Daniel said: “Jake’s always been a bit of a computer whizz, but me and his mum Becky had no idea he’d cracked this code or was up for this job.

“I came in and heard him talking to someone on a conference call and thought it was to do with his quarry apprenticeship, which he’s just finished.

“Then we thought he was just off to an open day at Jaguar Land Rover. When he first told us he’d got a job, I thought “what, on the production line?” We had no idea he was going to be working on the computer side.

“But we’re very proud, it’s wonderful news. It’s a fairy tale.”

Alex Heslop, Jaguar Land Rover head of electrical engineering, said: “Daniel is exactly the kind of person we need.

“Technology companies like Jaguar Land Rover provide an exciting opportunity for the brightest and best. We want to attract top-notch talent in software, cyber systems, app development and graphics.

“We don’t do ordinary and that means hiring

extraordinary people. Jaguar Land Rover makes some of the world’s most exciting cars and it needs brilliant people to create them.”