WITHIN two days of being made redundant from a transport firm Wayne Carr was back in the building but now renting a desk from his old employer so he could set up his own courier business.

Using a pool of 100 van drivers his company delivers parcels for firms to destinations all over the country and in Europe.

Wayne Carr started as a sole trader in 2008 but a year later became a limited company which now has a turnover of £1.2 million.

With his order book fast expanding Wayne has also moved his office to Patchway where he has turned the ground floor into a shop selling marine and tropical fish. Between them the two businesses employ eight people including his wife Tara.

"The main reason for starting the courier firm was to bring together the many self-employed couriers in the Bristol area who because of their size can't get work from the larger firms" explained Wayne.

"We have a regular contract to deliver a sports paper which is produced in London and printed every Saturday night in Oxford. We have to make 100 drops to newspaper wholesalers like WHSmith all over the country.

"This job involves 27 vans and we've got five hours from midnight to complete the job" said Wayne.

His other clients include UKOS, a stationery firm, and NHS Supply Chain. Altogether 35 firms are using Wayne's services.