Chocolate, champagne and water fountains, marquees, firework displays, children's entertainers it's getting more and more difficult to keep up with the latest party trends.

One man who has taken on the challenge is 37-year-old Tony Sheppard, whose credits include an underwater party' and Whipsnade wildlife park.

He said: "I had been working as a chef at events in and around Oxford since I was 16 and I got to the stage of life where I didn't want to work for other people any more. I started a catering business from home and things just mushroomed.

"This year we are expanding into the unit next door at Wheatley. I have become extremely busy."

In his first year, his company, Creative Event Catering, has broken even and turned over £400,000. Mr Sheppard expects to have doubled his turnover by this time next year, having taken on three staff.

He said: "It started when I did a wedding for a friend, and one of the guests asked me to do another wedding. A lot of our business is from word of mouth recommendation."

His credits include a celebration of the International festival of the Sea 2005 at the Royal Clarence boatyard, a royal barbecue at Sparshot College and A-list celebrity parties, as well as a long list of corporate clients, including Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance, Air France, British Telecom, Toshiba, Shell Oil Company and the Arab Banking Corporation.

One of his most unusual events was an underwater' party for the 21st birthday of a celebrity's son.

He said: "We completely transformed their stately home into an underwater themed venue. The party room was draped in cloth with cleverly designed back-lighting and we used the cellars as a dance-floor, with a lighting backdrop which turned them into an underwater' cave.

"Basically, we find out what the client wants and we sort it out. I have been to lots of different events over the years, but now I have the responsibility for arranging everything. It's a challenge but I enjoy it."

Although he lives in Oxford, when he ran out of space at home he ended up setting up shop at Wheatley, having seen a sign for new business park when he was passing.

"I looked at business parks in Cowley, but the traffic is terrible there. We do quite a lot of work in London and the road links here are very good," he said.

The new business unit at Wheatley Business Centre in Old London Road is needed to store crockery and cutlery. Mr Sheppard has also set up a delicatessen bar for lunchtime trade.

He said: "We do a lunchtime buffet delivery service, which has also expanded by recommendation.

"Because I have worked in the business for so long, I have a list of people I can call who I have worked with from chefs and waiters to lighting and decoration specialists."

Contact: 01865 874646, www.creativeeventcatering.co.uk