Biker Andrew Reed has managed to turn a lifelong passion into a new business.

Mr Reed, 43, has loved motorcycles ever since he was able to hop onto a pillion seat at the age of 11, and for the last 10 years has dabbled in buying and selling machines aside from his regular job as a builder and handyman. Now he has opened AR Motorcycles at Great Coxwell, near Faringdon, where he is pictured with administration assistant Stacey Mildren. He said: "I've been wheeling and dealing for a long time but when a unit at the Faringdon Business Park came up, I decided to finally take the plunge and turn a hobby into a full-time business."

The firm specialises in mainly used motorcycle sales, although Mr Reed, whose varied former jobs range from hairdressing to chauffeuring, says he can supply new Suzukis as well as those from Chinese manufacturer Hyosung.

He added: "I have always wanted to earn a living out of motorcycles."