After years as a Blues Brother, James Kelly has reinvented himself as an eco-friendly businessman.

He toured Britain as understudy to the two leads and later stage manager in the Official Tribute to the Blues Brothers.

In almost ten years as understudy, stage manager and tour manager, he was involved in more than 800 performances of the show.

The shows took him around Britain, Europe and Japan, since 1993.

But now he is an eco-businessman and is touring Seaford and Bishopstone, collecting recycled material from the doorstep.

His company Seahaven Recycling began kerbside collections of paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, tins and tinfoil, clothing and books this week.

James said: "I have just got a young family and I wanted to find a business opportunity in the South to stay with them and this came along.

"It gives me the chance to stay with them and also to do something I am passionate about.

"There isn't anybody else out here and also of course I am trying to make a business out of it.

"It is not just to become an eco-warrior but also to become a successful businessman."

James has leafleted 3,000 homes in Seaford and Bishopstone and needs 100 to 200 customers a day for his weekly kerbside collections to start making a profit.

Kerbside schemes, where rubbish is sorted by householders and left outside to be collected, are recognised as the most efficient way of boosting recycling.

The Government, anxious to improve Britain's lacklustre recycling record, said councils should back kerbside collections in its National Waste Strategy.

Recycling in many towns and cities has quickly risen to 50 per cent once kerbside schemes have been introduced.

James said: "It would seem this particular pocket of East Sussex is one of the worst for recycling.

"I think it is essential we get something like this going so people have the opportunity to leave it outside their door.

"They are going to do it more often and it takes the stress out of it as well."

At the moment James, of Chartwell Close, Seaford, is collecting the recycling in a van, which he intends to change to an electric vehicle if the venture is successful.

All the rubbish he collects is taken to Lewes District Council's depot at North Road, Lewes, before being sent on to be recycled.

People living in Seaford, in the footprint of a waste-burning incinerator proposed for next-door Newhaven, have a bigger stake than most in what happens to rubbish.

James said: "If we recycle all the burnable paper and plastic we won't need an incinerator.

"They are the two main things and if we recycle them there won't be anything to burn.

"We need something to happen, either by myself, or by the council, and I thought I would step in there and get it moving."

Seahaven Recycling can be contacted on 07720 894129.