Businessman Kevin Harris went from schoolboy troublemaker to star pupil when at the age of 14 he decided he wanted to make something of his life.

Now Mr Harris, 31, has just moved his Zelf van hire and removal business into new premises on the Garden Trading Estate, Devizes and is expanding his storage business.

He said: “I had a bit of a tough upbringing and got into a bit of trouble but when I was in Year 9 at school I decided I wanted to make something of myself and I only had myself to rely on.”

He always knew he wanted a business of his own and began thinking of ideas while working full-time as an engineer.

In 2009 he decided the way forward was van hire and in October that year bought his first vehicle and started the business from his mother’s house in Nursteed Close, Devizes.

He said: “I got a friend to install a counter so when people turned up it looked quite business-like. But back then I was still working full- time and trying to run the business as well.”

He now has 13 vans and 8,000 sq ft of storage space on the trading estate. He said: “The business started with just self-hire. I then realised some people wanted someone else to do removals for them so I added that on too. We then started doing storage.”

He now employs four people plus himself and has ambitions to expand into other towns and start a franchise.