A FORMER cement worker who is building a future based on his hobby, has rounded off his first year in business by expanding into new premises.

Paul Anderson used his redundancy payout from Lafarge Cement's Eastgate works in Weardale to set up his company, Anderson ATV, in Wolsingham.

A one-time British quad bike champion, he used his mechanical skills and working knowledge of the bikes to build a successful sales and servicing enterprise.

Mr Anderson was one of the first entrepreneurs to feature in The Northern Echo's Working for a Future campaign.

His venture in a unit on the Wolsingham Industrial Estate was backed by Durham county and Wear Valley district councils.

Moving a few yards across the road has given him six times more space for a sales showroom and workshop.

He has also secured a franchise selling the E-Ton children's quad range and is building a reputation for high quality after-sales service.

He said: "I have people coming from the whole of the North-East because I offer a good service.

"The servicing side is the mainstay of the business. I have a good relationship with customers, both on the sporting and agricultural side."

Mr Anderson, 37, hopes to be marking another milestone in the next few weeks.

After Christmas, he hopes the company will be in a strong enough position to take on its first employee, a young apprentice.

He said: "It is going really well at the moment, even though there is a long way to go. The new showroom should help things really take off."

Anderson ATV can be contacted on (01388) 528966.