WHEN Teesside granfather Steve Allport was struck down with a rare brain condition he thought he would never work again.

But thanks to a love of traditional cake recipes, a never-say-die attitude, and help from Redcar and Cleveland Enterprise Team, the father-of-two has launched a pop-up vintage tea room and catering company with his wife Julie.

Mr Allport, 54, from Nunthorpe, was struck down with a rare brain herniation in 1998 called Arnold Chiari Malformation with Syringomyelia. The condition meant part of his brain shifted from within his skull into his spinal column.

He underwent major surgery to correct the hernia but the condition left him with limited sensitivity to heat or cold and he is now unable to feel pain.

After his life-saving operation, the former civil servant struggled to find another job and was considering early retirement until a bizarre experience while on a day out changed his life.

Mr Allport said: “After being out of work for so long, I wasn’t sure if I’d ever work again.

"But after a day out in our vintage camper van with friends at Blakey Ridge in North Yorkshire we were mistaken by other holiday makers as a refreshment van and it planted the idea for the business.”

The couple then contacted the Enterprise Team, part of Redcar and Cleveland Council, for advice and support.

They renovated a vintage caravan - which they call Annie - to take to summer events and from that they launched Annie’s Vintage Teas in August this year. The husband and wife team now operate from their home kitchen in Nunthorpe and a commercial kitchen they have leased in Middlesbrough.