A GWENT dad quit his £26,000 a year job as an industrial chemist and bought a pub - just so his son could play pool.

Fifteen-year-old world and European pool champion Perry Foster has represented Wales in Northern Ireland, Jersey and the Shetland Isles - but many South Wales pubs and clubs said he was too young to play in them as he is under 18.

So dad Mike, 46, left his job at engineering firm Cray Valley in Machen and bought the Olde Oak in Rogerstone.

"It was a hard decision for me to make because I worked with 200 really nice people," he said.

"I knew I was taking a risk leaving a regular salary - in the pub trade you don't know what you will make from one week to the next.

"I was travelling 400 miles a week for Perry's pool tournaments and was finding it increasingly difficult to get time off work. We also needed somewhere for him to play."

But Mike had another concern. How would he get on working with wife Debbie?

"I didn't know how things would go, but we do make a really good team," he said.

Mike had never worked behind a bar, but Debbie, 40, has spent many years working in pubs and hotels.

Perry is certainly grateful.

"I really respect what my mum and dad have done for me - they have helped me out so much in my life. I couldn't have achieved so much without them," he said.

Perry has been a prominent figure in the Welsh junior team, helping them win eight world team titles, four European titles and three home nations team titles.

He will have a game with anyone who comes into his dad's pub.

"I used to challenge my older brother - but he stopped playing when I kept beating him," he said. "Now I am down playing pool with the regulars most nights."

Perry started playing pool when he was just six. His grandmother was a steward at a club in the Rhymney Valley and allowed him to play on Saturday mornings.

Now the young player is looking for a sponsor so that he can compete in America. He hopes to play in the International pool tour which boasts a $28m prize fund - something snooker star Ronnie O'Sullivan has also toyed with entering.