CAR mechanic David Bruce was just a step away from giving up his dream of becoming self-employed when thieves left their unwanted mark on his business.

They stripped his new Autodoctor premises bare the night before he was due to open for business, and his hopes for a new start to his working life lay in tatters.

But thanks to the help and support of friends, and the backing of Business Link County Durham, David, 34, overcame the crisis and is now celebrating a successful first year's trading for his motor maintenance business at Shotton Colliery in County Durham.

David had spent a busy weekend setting up the new equipment in his unit to be ready for opening on the Monday when thieves, equipped with a wagon, struck on the Sunday night.

David explained: "It had taken more than two months to get everything up and ready.

"When I arrived for my first day I couldn't believe my eyes. They had stripped the place bare taking thousands of pounds worth of equipment including a huge, heavy compressor and even the tea, coffee and sugar.

"I nearly shut the doors and gave up but because I had wanted to run my own business for so many years, and had come so far, I felt I just couldn't give in to them."

David was also very lucky with friends offering loans of equipment and tools until he could replace all that he had lost.

He added: "Business Link was also there with advice and the enterprise grant I was given became even more important."

David, who has been repairing vehicles since the age of 15, had to put a lot of fresh hard work into the venture himself, but his efforts have proved more than worthwhile with the business flourishing.

Thanks solely to recommendations from existing customers he now services and repairs vehicles of all types and wishes he had taken the plunge into business years ago.

Mick Wood, enterprise manager for Business Link County Durham said: "David is typical of the type of people we support into business, as they put every effort into their venture even when it faces problems.