KIT cars and big boy trikes are Simon Haseldene's passion.

The metal fabricator will make them to commission and hopes one day to turn his entire business over to the production of exclusive designs.

But, for now, the mainstay of his business at Kirkhall Workshops in Bilbao Street, Bolton, is just about anything else in aluminium and stainless or mild steel.

If a customer can describe what they want, the chances are that Simon can make it, whether it's a metal gate, a special exhaust system or something a little artier.

Simon opened his firm, SPH Sheet Metal Fabrication Company, just over 12 months ago "after 10 years of thinking about it".

By then he was fed up with the journey time to and from an otherwise perfectly good job in Haslingden and, as he did not want to continue working for a standard wage, the time was right to take a risk.

With the advice of Bolton Council's Business Support Unit, Simon focussed on reliable customer orders for mundane projects and occasional overflow work from his previous employer.

He postponed his dream of developing an exclusive company making kit cars and trikes - three-wheel versions of quad bikes - "for now".

But that does not mean he will not welcome challenging commissions.

If anyone wants a kit car - or anything else - Simon, who is also a mechanic, will design and build it to specifications.

With his wife Ann doing the accounts and lots of advice about marketing and promotions, the firm is growing steadily.

"I want this to become a family business," he said. "One of my youngsters wants to come and help me and the other is into computers, so they are developing skills that will be useful to the company".

"My company is up and running now but, if I get problems, I will contact the business support unit again. I've had a lot of advice from them. Ross Bullock helped me and then Michael Berry, a financial expert, came out to see where I might need more support. Business adviser Chris Holt put me in touch with marketing expert Ted Martin and a graphic designer helped too."

Ross Bullock, of the unit's "On Track" programme, said: "When we find a business with great potential for growth, and have completed a review, we can offer the most appropriate help.

"For Simon, the need was to produce a marketing strategy and the design for promotional literature, which we were able to fund."