WHERE others are still reeling from the tsunami horror which engulfed much of the coast of Thailand, Andrew Harwood cannot wait to leave York and set up home and business there.

The qualified financial adviser has called for the support of the business community in York and North and East Yorkshire when he moves into a newly-built home near Bangkok next summer.

His new condominium in Jomtien, near Pattaya, is on the eastern seaboard of Thailand, which was not affected by the earthquake-generated killer waves.

From there, he hopes to launch an internet-based business, offering services at cut-rate prices to British firms.

"My rates for work would reflect the cost of living, which is third of what it is here.

"I would be prepared to do anything from data inputting and administration to compliance work and helping to organise exports of clothes and furniture out of Thailand to the UK," he said.

"While I am out of the UK I am registered as a non-domicile for tax purposes so, given my low charges, my clients will win and I will win."

Andrew, 39, was an adviser with Friends Provident, but left in November when 400 people were made redundant. He was given the option of continuing with the company on a self-employed basis.

"But I had already made up my mind to join my Thai girlfriend, Sang, and set up a new home and a new life," he said.

He flew out there to buy his new home, but has returned temporarily to live with his mother in Galtres Road, York, to give himself time to drum up e-business before he goes back to South-East Asia.

He was in York when the first newsflashes about the killer tsunami came through.

"I was absolutely horrified, especially with the damage in Phuket which is regarded as the Benidorm of South-East Asia, but where we plan to live on the coast will be sheltered on the other side of the peninsula."

Updated: 09:35 Wednesday, January 05, 2005