A FORMER photographer has turned his passion for an iconic British sports car into a £3m-a-year business.

The Aston Workshop, at Beamish, near Stanley, County Durham, is regarded as a world leader in restoring vintage Aston Martins.

The business was set up by Bob Fountain, 50, who began his working life in his father's mobile photography business, which was founded in 1949.

He bought his first Aston Martin, a DB5, in the early 1980s.

"It was just a hobby to start with," he said. "I still have a great love and passion for them."

He specialises in restoring the DB4, DB5 and DB6 models.

The Aston Martin brand was created in 1915 by Lionel Martin and Robert Banford.

The DB4 rolled off the assembly line in 1958, and was followed by the first DB5 in 1963.

The DB5 was immortalised on the silver screen as James Bond's car in the movies Goldfinger and Thunderball. The DB6 was introduced in 1965 and produced until 1970.

"The attraction is that they were produced in very low volumes, but were beautifully made," said Mr Fountain.

"They have got a lot of character and have increased in value, which has helped to power the business."

From restoring his first model in the garden shed, he built his first workshop at Beamish in 1990, and the business has grown to employ 17 people.

Work starts this week on a 7,500sq ft extension to its 27,000sq ft premises, after he invested £150,000 in new equipment for manufacturing engines.

"We've experienced massive growth in the last couple of years," he said.

"On average, there are around 20 restorations going on at any one time, and more floor space has become an issue."

Each restoration involves completely stripping the car and rebuilding it, often incorporating modern features, including a satellite navigation system.

The company sells cars all over the world and has won awards for its work in the US, Switzerland, Hong Kong and The Netherlands.

Gary Howe, of Sunderland accountants UHY Torgersens, has advised the company for five years.

He said: "Bob has a real enthusiasm for restoring Aston Martins and the business has grown purely through word of mouth.

"It has established a reputation for being one of the world's leading specialists in its field in an incredibly short space of time."