A FORMER water company worker has turned his hobby into a living and exchanged permanent night shifts in London for an open air job at a County Durham beauty spot.

Bobby Boyd has set up a mountain bike centre in Hamsterley Forest, near Bishop Auckland, helped by a £2,500 loan from The Prince's Trust and a £1,000 grant from the European Regional Development Fund.

Helped by friends, the 30-year-old Scot, of Newton Aycliffe, is building a downhill cycle track and improving existing trails through the woodland.

His centre will cover all aspects of mountain biking and he hopes to attract a wide range of users from young children to older people and from beginners to experienced riders.

He has built a special course where school groups and other young people can be taught safety and cycling techniques and wants to establish a special schools' race league.

Mr Boyd, who has been a mountain biker for 16 years, said: "I was not relishing the prospect of working permanent nightshift in London for my former employers.

"I decided to turn my hobby into a living by providing mountain bike enthusiasts and beginners with something that had not been available before, quality designed cycle routes in a safe environment.

"I don't believe there is anything like a race league at the moment and there are probably quite a number of children who are very interested in mountain biking but no-one has provided them with an outlet."

Each year The Prince's Trust helps 400 people aged between 18 and 30 to set up in business for themselves. Telephone them on (0191) 420 3940.