A Cumbrian man has re-skilled at 50 to follow his ambition of becoming a locksmith.

Gary Taylorson, of Gilgarran, decided to take the plunge and re-train as a locksmith this year after spending decades wishing he’d started a trade earlier in life.

Now six months on since setting up his business – Surelock Homes Locksmith – Gary is thriving in his new role and has received over 70 five star reviews for providing emergency locksmith services 24/7.

But it all started with a drive to make a long-desired change.

Gary said: “Basically I left school and went down the route of university, which was more because I got pressured into it because I had a lot of relatives who went to university and it was kind of seen as you had more prospects by going.

“But it didn’t turn out to be for me, I had to leave, come home and get employment. So I didn’t leave school with a trade as such and I’ve kind of always regretted that.

“But it’s got to the point where I’ve lived my life up till now and wanting a trade has always been an idea in the back of my mind, but I’ve just never had the option to do anything about it.

“So I decided this year after turning 50 that I’ve got at least 10 years left to work, so I want to do something where I’m getting extra income and job satisfaction so I can look forward to retirement . . .