A welder who struggled to find work after an industrial accident has opened his own business.

Robert Brew, 58, opened an auto welding workshop in Coggeshall Road, Braintree, at the beginning of March after his injury and age made it hard to find work as an electrician.

He is now based in a workshop where his first learnt about engines and mechanics aged just eight-years-old when his dad worked there as chief fitter for Cooks garage.

He said: “I had a serious accident in 2007 and have now got a titanium right foot and couldn’t do my trade [as an electrician] anymore and had trouble finding employment.

“Once you have had an accident they don’t really want to take you on because of the insurance so I decided to start up on my own and show people I am not giving up.”