Martin Barnes worked as a piano remover 17 years ago. Today he's got his own shop selling them.

Martin, who is 40, lives in Highworth and has opened Barnes Pianos in Newburgh Place, also in Highworth.

Putting a piano shop in the middle of a housing estate might not seem good business sense to the outsider. "But, let's face it, people don't go window shopping for a piano," said Martin.

"They will be responding to an advert and we've got the ideal place here with plenty of room."

Martin has sufficient room for 30 pianos and that's more than enough for customers.

"I could be in the centre of Swindon and have the same frontage but not enough storage," said Martin. "I'd probably have enough space for, say, 15 pianos and that's not enough."

Martin's business is both buying and selling pianos and for the past 15 years he has been working with his brother-in-law in Faringdon doing the same thing.

The price of pianos he deals with vary from £300 for the basic models and up to £5,000 for the more sophisticated. "All my sales are private and I hope to be covering a fairly large area,'' he said.

When he makes his purchase Martin brings the piano back to Highworth for a check-over and servicing and then it will be back up for sale, with the necessary profit margin."Having a family business has always been my ambition and I've had great support from everyone, especially my wife Helen. It's good for my two boys, Lewis and Matt, because they get to tinkle the old ivories now and then and I'm hoping this will improve their musical abilities."

Martin's shop was officially opened by GWR DJ Howard Taylor.