DRIVING the length and breadth of Britain to re-supply rural post offices may not be everyone's cup of tea but it suits Jeff Neill from Undy.

He gave up a 35-year career in the motor industry, which culminated in becoming managing director of the main Ford/Iveco dealership in Cardiff, to run Treetops Mobile Warehouse.

The 55-year-old uses an articulated lorry with a 36ft trailer to carry 216 product lines.

He said: "It's like an Aladdin's cave. Some of my customers spend as long as three hours looking around my stock."

His sells greetings cards, stationery supplies, toys, even babies' dummies and cling film.

Mr Neill went through a two-month transition period of working with the business' previous owner and getting to know his customers.

"It's all based on relationships and because most of our customers are based in rural areas they're glad to see me.

"Post offices are diversifying to keep themselves going and we're here to help them succeed. If they had to go to a cash-and-carry for what I have in stock there would be little time for them to do anything else."

Greetings cards are Mr Neill's big seller. "The card market is gigantic. There are about 59 million people in this country.

"They all celebrate birthdays, marriages and anniversaries and mourn deaths. If they only buy two cards each a year that's well over 100 million cards."

He has also found opportunities in selling smaller quantities than the average trade warehouse. "Take Pritt Sticks for instance, rural post offices might sell one or two a week. "If they had to buy from the manufacturers or wholesalers they would be obliged to buy lots, but we can supply them with smaller amounts."

Despite having to drive the 26-ton trailer across the country Mr Neill said the venture is cost effective. "From my point of view it's a nice way of making a living." He was assisted into self-employment by Prime Cymru, the Llandovery- based organisation that helps people of 50 and over to set up in business.

Keith Jones, Mr Neill's advisor, said: "Jeff has come up trumps. I think this business is a unique idea and to buy into an established concern that has good support from its customers gives him a platform on which to build.

"There will always be a demand for the kind of products he sells."