A FORMER SSI worker who had to quit his next job as an HGV driver after being diagnosed with epilepsy has started his third career in three years.

Martyn Nelson, 34, of Brotton, has set up in business as a gardener, handyman, small job builder and fence erector, and is known as 'Mr Clean and Tidy', with support from the SSI Task Force.

He had a young family when SSI closed but was already qualified as an HGV driver and soon found work. However, when he was suddenly diagnosed with epilepsy last year he had to give up that job too and was forced to start a new career for the third time.

“Last year was horrendous after the diagnosis,” he said, explaining his daughters were 10 and four when SSI closed and are 13 and seven now. “I have now been put on medication to control the seizures, and I’m raring to go. I am always outside doing fencing or cutting the grass and hedges keeping everywhere tidy. I enjoy it, so thought, ‘why not do it as a business?’.

Martyn started work at SSI as a Production Operator on the Redcar blast furnace in November 2011 shortly after getting married and the birth of their daughter in 2011. When he was made redundant he picked up work as an HGV driver – but collapsed at work and was diagnosed with epilepsy.