A Sussex man is going back to his roots in the gardening business.

Andrew Gould's green-fingered passion started with a Saturday job at a garden nursery.

Now, after 22 years in the landscaping and horticultural industry, he has launched his own business, Plantmania.

He said: "Starting my own business is something I've always wanted to do since I was a teenager working in a local garden nursery. My early career was spent learning the trade and working on garden design, planting and landscaping. I then moved on to more senior posts for a number of large businesses, managing substantial garden landscape and maintenance service contracts as contracts manager.

"With my new company, I aim to combine both skills - not only offering a service to individual customers who may have garden design or maintenance needs but also to larger clients, such as the business and industry sectors, who may have grounds to maintain."

Mr Gould, 38, from Eastbourne, started his career at Stone Cross Nursery. His love of plants was nurtured and he trained for three years at the Merrist Wood College, the horticultural and agricultural centre in Surrey, to gain a National Diploma in horticulture.

Since then, he has worked mainly in the Greater London and Hampshire areas. He can be contacted on 07811 378904.