CARING father David Sharp took the plunge into business so that he could be at home to help care for his sick child.

He set up his own vehicle accessory firm to avoid spending long periods away from home which meant he did not see much of his young son, Conor.

The three-year old has a rare bowel disease and has undergone ten operations, but is now "doing great" said his father.

Mr Sharp, a civil engineer who formerly worked for a national construction firm, founded RDS Engineering Services to solve the problem.

"I had to work away a lot and it was distressing not to be near my family," said the 24-year-old from Stockton. "Setting up on my own means I am on the spot if needed."

In effect, Mr Sharp has turned his off-roading hobby into a business. He and his father and his brother have taken part in 4x4 vehicle events for years and now he designs and makes accessories for the vehicles.

"Deciding to set up my own business was really scary, but now I have done it I am loving every minute of it," said Mr Sharp. His firm makes a range of tailor-made accessories - mainly for Land Rovers - such as roll cages, roof racks and doorskids.

It was during a spell of unemployment that he contacted the Stockton branch of InBiz, the business support organisation which specialises in helping people move from unemployment to self-employment, and aired his idea for setting up in business.

He got advice, was taught business skills and put in the direction of funding, eventually getting a £1,900 loan from the Prince's Trust