SEARCHING for the wow factor for his own wedding inspired a Colchester man to set up his own business.

Derek Morton of Tokely Road, Frating, set up Melting Chocolate Moments - a chocolate fountain business - with his wife Julie shortly after the couple married.

"When Julie saw the chocolate fountain at a wedding fair she was absolutely amazed - we'd found the wow factor," he said.

But disappointed by the restrictions and charges imposed on them Mr Morton went straight home, wrote a business plan and Melting Chocolate Moments was born - three years ago this month (December).

"Julie thought I was crazy but after our first job at a wedding at Hedingham Castle, we have become the venue's recommended supplier for weddings there."

Mr Morton, who works full time as a manager at Colchester-based Serck Intertruck, first ran the business with his wife and one chocolate fountain machine.

But its success meant he now employs eight people - all of whom are food and hygeine certificated - has four machines of different sizes, works 150 weddings a year and boasts an annual turnover of £75,000.

He puts the success down to flexibility and customer service.

"We will travel anywhere in the UK, though most of our jobs are between Colchester, Norwich, Cambridge and Brentwood. We have even worked as far as Runcorn, Leeds and Southampton. We are a friendly, family business and are punctual, reliable and work very hard - we were working on the company's third anniversary!"

He is convinced the chocolate fountain business is here to stay.

"I did wonder whether chocolate fountains would last but the machines are getting bigger and more reliable - it will just continue to grow our business."