STEVE Crook always wanted to run his own business. He is now achieving his ambition through Ultimate Limousines a company providing luxury travel with state-of-the art facilities for the business market.

When Steve and his wife Alison and friends Phil and Sarah Morris - Steve and Phil are childhood friends from Devon went on holiday in the USA, they hired a huge super caravan for the three weeks.

That was to prove the catalyst for Ultimate Limousines. run by Steve, Phil and Alison, believe they have identified a gap in the market between chauffeur driven car hire, limousines and executive coaches.

"Steve has always wanted to run his own business, to see the children and be at home more," explains Alison, who lives with Steve and their three children in Bourne End.

"There are limousines everywhere but we wanted to design and run a bespoke vehicle with all the facilities of the limousine and much more."

Steve, now 34, has already tried his hand at entrepreneurship.

At 18 he bought a barn on a piece of land and converted it to a three-bedroom house which he rented out and subsequently sold.

He spent almost a year researching what was on the market then contacted Phil who has become his business partner in the new venture. They put their own money into the business, backed by HSBC and Steve now has a PSV licence to drive the limousine for clients.

The £300,000 full-sized executive limousine, based on a full-size coach chassis, has been built across three countries Sweden (chassis) Portugal (bodywork) and England (interior). It is designed to carry eight people, though it can seat up to 16, and will be fully equipped with high- tech facilities include internet, LCD screens with laptop connections, satellite TV and DVD, gallery kitchen and shower room/WC.

Alison and Steve took a stand at the Business Travel Show in Birmingham in the autumn of last year to test the market while the limousine was still being built and Alison was thrilled with the response. The limo was also on show recently at Business Travel Show at Olympia in London where the company was nominated for an innovation award.

"I am very excited and really keen to get up and running and looking forward to placing an order for the next one," said Alison.

More details on www.ultimatelimousines.co.uk