A FORMER employee of collapsed cruise specialist Sealand Cruising has set up in business.

Kelvin Marsh, who was general manager of North Yorkshire-based Sealand until it went into voluntary liquidation in May, has set up an Internet-based travel agency business, also specialising in cruise holidays.

Mr Marsh, who said that up until Sealand's collapse he had no idea it was heading into liquidation, has taken on five former Sealand staff and set up business in Richmond.

Although he was managing staff at Sealand's headquarters in Brompton-on-Swale until it closed in May, Mr Marsh had no financial involvement with the business, and did not make financial decisions.

His business - national cruiseclub.com - started trading from the Gallowfields Trading Estate on Monday and has already sold cruises.

It is a member of the Travel Trust Association.

He hopes turnover will top £500,000 within the year, which will see the business make a small profit.

Mr Marsh said: "The cruise holiday market is an ever-growing market and we felt that rather than sell all travel to all people we would pool the experience we have, and sell only cruise holidays."