A YORK-born engineer has launched a new camping concept he picked up while working in Australia.

Andy Rogan, returned last year from Australia, where he worked as a foreman in an engineering company that made trailers.

On his return to York he set up Go-Gecko Camping Trailers at York Business Park, to cater for the new breed of comfort-seeking campers, who want the low cost of camping, but with all their mod cons.

Andy’s 25-sq m tents are installed in the back of a 7ft by 4ft trailer with a pull-out kitchen, electricity, running water and proper bed with mattress.

He uses manufacturers Graham Edwards Trailers at Full Sutton to make the trailers locally to his exacting standards and hopes to grow the business as his camping trailers start making their presence known in campsites in the UK and Europe.

He said: “The trailers fold down, so they’re easy to store, and they’re not as heavy as a caravan or campervan, so you don’t hold traffic up on hills and you get better fuel economy.

“You can take all the component parts out of the trailer and use it as a normal trailer, and the license plate clips on, so you can share it with friends,” he said.

Even with the tent inside, campers can store all their luggage in the trailer, rather than sit in a cramped car, further easing family camping stresses, he said.