HAVING grown up and raised a family in one of the country's most picturesque areas, Reg Savory had never considered leaving Weardale.

But when the dale's main employer LaFarge cement works, at Eastgate, closed in August leaving Mr Savory out of work, it was a reality he faced.

The 45-year-old had always been a Jack-of-all-trades, able to turn his hand to most jobs around the house, so started working for himself as an odd-job man.

He said: "I really did not want to leave to find work. My house is my own, my wife works in a nursery in Frosterley, my eldest daughter Kelly-Ann teaches in Barnard Castle and my youngest, Sinead, is studying for GCSEs at Wolsingham School.

"I thought I had a job for life and expected to be there until I retired but that was not to be the case so I figured I would do what I was good at and that is odd jobs.

"I knew I would need transport to get to a new job so bought a van and if working as a handyman was not successful at least I had not lost anything in trying.

"Word of mouth is spreading and I am quite well known around these parts anyway so quite a few people have come to me with work.

"I am pleased to be working locally and close to all my friends and family."

Reg Savory can be contacted on (01388) 527594.