BUSINESSMAN Don Sinclair is feeling distinctly above Parr!

After being made redundant from his previous job in the motor trade, he's enjoying life in the fast lane again.

The sales manager turned photographer runs the thriving Parr Lane Studio in Unsworth which has just received a coveted award.

Don's colour print of a Jewish wedding won a merit award in a open day competition run by Brighouse-based Leach Colour, a laboratory which the Unsworth man uses regularly.

The 62-year-old's success in forging a new career is ample proof that there is life after redundancy.

Don explained: "I'd been in the motor trade virtually all my life before I was made redundant from my job as a sales manager.

"That happened about seven years ago after I'd spent 30 years in the trade."

The Scotsman, who moved down south from Edinburgh in the 1970s, decided he would transform his hobby of photography into a new, flourishing business.

"Fortunately, because of my previous job, I had a fair business knowledge. So, it was a matter of getting myself sorted out and into my studio."

Working from his three-bed semi in Parr Lane, Don quickly established a reputation for his photographic company.

"I do social, wedding portraits and makeovers, but very little commercial work.

"Much of the work comes through friends and via word of mouth and things are really looking good for me," he says.

Although the vast majority of his assignments are in the Manchester area, Don has also gone further afield.

"I can go anywhere. I was in Cirencester last year. It's always been a case of have camera will travel."

With an eye to the future, Don added: "I'm looking to be one of the upper class wedding and social photographers."

Don is delighted that his wedding print has notched up an award with Leach Colour. The firm carries out the Unsworth man's film processing and printing.