FISH lover Mr Tom Barker has brought a touch of the Orient to Saltburn with a new venture.

His boyhood hobby, keeping fascinating species, has finally become his business.

It is set to start soon when 600 of his favourite koi carp are flown in from Japan to his company's new premises in the town.

It will be like home from home for these friendly fish as their ponds, manufactured by the company, are all designed to Japanese themes such as the tea house.

Made redundant when Shell moved from Teesport, Mr Barker, aged 44, formed Sundeck Europe two years ago, making sunbeds and equipment for garden and swimming pools.

However, he also built two ponds holding 15,000 gallons of water between them, to keep his kois, goldfish and other species at his home in Brotton. They attracted so much interest from people wanting to share his hobby, he decided to meet the demand by moving the company from Liverton to the former Huntcliff enterprise centre in Prince's Road, Saltburn.

Stepson, Mr Mark Hodgson, runs the manufacturing side leaving Mr Barker to make his hobby his business.

"They are such peaceful fish to watch and so friendly they can be stroked and even eat out of your hand," he said.

Although originating from the paddy fields, kois have now become big business with breeders in Japan vying to produce status symbol fish which can fetch enormous sums of money.

They can grow from 4in to 3ft in length and have been known to live 70 years.

The first 600 will be on display in the four large and six smaller home ponds for the official opening day next month.

Many more will follow as Mr Barker, who was in Japan recently, has organised deliveries from a major breeder.

With the Oriential pond designs and only the natural koi species being brought in from Japan, he feels sure that the venture will prove to be another attraction for Saltburn