A FORMER soldier turned bus driver is on target for success, after turning his hobby into a business.

Keen archer Dennis Brown has established Castle Longbows, with help from the North-East of England Business and Innovation Centre's (BIC) Business Start Up Team, based in Sunderland.

His company, set up in the Stanfield Centre in Sunderland, is one of only six professional bow makers in the country.

He is making bows for users in the UK, the European and world markets.

Mr Brown first started making longbows when he moved to the region from London four years ago.

Working from his home in his spare time, he took the opportunity to work for himself after leaving his job with Sunderland transport company Wear Bus, but was unsure where to start.

He said: "I knew there was a market for longbows, as I was actually making them, but what I didn't know was how to go about capturing it.

"However, the local job centre told me about the BIC's Business Start Up Team, and that's where I met Paul Cairns.

"He has been a real source of information and advice about establishing my company. Paul knows the right people and organisations to go to, whatever the problem.

"He helped me with a business plan and to find premises."

Mr Cairns said: "The Business Start Up service is a valuable one, especially for clients like Dennis, who has the technical skills, but needed support to develop the business side.

"Dennis is receiving orders from as far away as the US and Poland.

"It is a phenomenal achievement and I am delighted with the results."