JULIAN Goodwill has returned to the region to make furniture, after three months away learning new skills.

Julian, set up his business, Few Miles North, with his American wife Jane, at Houghton Enterprise Centre in Sunderland four weeks ago.

The business specialises in the production of Japanese functional furniture after Julian, a former engineer, spent three months in Venice, Los Angeles, learning Japanese joinery skills.

There his wife's brother, Stephen, introduced him to the craft of Tansu - a technique becoming increasingly popular.

Returning to the UK, he realised there was a healthy market for the furniture, so the couple went into business with the help of the North-East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) at Sunderland Enterprise Park.

It has already received a number of commissions.

Julian said: "Literally translated Tansu means 'carrying chest' and is a specialist form of hand- crafted furniture production.

"Our research had shown that there was a huge market for furniture like ours in the UK."

He added: "Each individual piece is made from natural materials such as Ash and Ebony and takes approximately six to eight weeks to complete."

BIC Business consultant Tom Henderson said: "Julian and Jane had researched the market thoroughly. By working with them to develop a business plan we were able to help them turn a very good idea into a viable business plan."