FORMER Acomb firefighter Annette Wingate is riding the boom in the motorhome holiday hire market after stumbling on an effective business plan while researching the cost of buying a vehicle herself.

Her Harrogate Motorhomes Ltd, launched over a kitchen table a year ago, has delivered a turnover of £55,000 in its first 12 months and is set to further expand, thanks largely to stay-at-home Brits looking to holiday in the UK.

The business has grown big enough to move into premises near Wetherby.

Annette, 42, is now set to acquire a third vehicle, while the business is also on the lookout for motor home owners willing to consider hiring their vehicles to help meet demand.

She said: “When I was thinking of buying or hiring a motorhome, I discovered there wasn’t a lot of choice in our area so I thought I’d do a bit of research.

The more I investigated, the more there seemed to be a gap in the market – so I decided to see if I could fill it. I just thought about what I would want from a touring holiday when I made a booking and went from there. One of the most important principles was that we’d be family-friendly – and that includes pets.”

No limits on mileage, mountain bikes provided on request and a pick-up and drop-off service have all proved popular. To help keep pace with the growing demand, Annette is also hoping to expand further by hiring other people’s motor homes out for them.

“It’s amazing how many people have a motorhome sitting on the drive for most of the year,” she said. “Why not offer them the opportunity to earn an extra income from their vehicle?”