WHEN Robert Needham was made redundant from New Look he knew what to do - start his own car wash and valet business.

He launched Steam and Clean after losing his job as a lorry driver when the fashion giant moved its distribution centre to Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire.

He spent two years running the firm as a mobile business but moved to a permanent site in Weymouth Football Club's Wessex Stadium on Radipole Lane three months ago.

Now he is launching a second operation next to the park and ride in the car park at Dorchester Town's Avenue Stadium.

Mr Needham, 40, who lives in Weymouth, said: "I have worked for someone else for most of my life. You can get in a rut.

"I was made redundant from New Look and decided to work for myself. I wanted to do it years ago when I worked for other companies.

"I worked for Dorset Transport for years and then was offered the job at New Look. Being made redundant really gave me a push."

Mr Needham has a van and trailer with water tanks based at the Wessex Stadium. He employs two part-time staff but intends to take on more employees and another van for the Dorchester operation.

Staff at Steam and Clean hand-wash and valet cars at the Wessex Stadium site. They service an average of 40 cars a day.

Mr Needham said: "It has paid off changing the business from being mobile to having the site at the Wessex. We are doing a lot more valets and a lot more people know where we are now."

Mr Needham added: "My thanks go to the customers who have been around so far for us to provide services for them."