When former Camelot director Andrew Newton started his own business in Sussex it was like winning the lottery.

Mr Newton, who lives in Chailey, used to spend his working week away from home, only seeing his wife and children at weekends.

Time with his children took on a special significance for him when his son Jake was born with cancer and underwent life saving surgery aged six weeks. The youngster has thankfully made a complete recovery.

Now, as a partner in Lewes-based Fastway Couriers, Mr Newton values being his own boss and the time he spends with his family. His business is growing fast and is challenging Royal Mail on price and speed.

Among the new-found pleasures living at home has brought are putting the children to bed at night and getting them up in the morning.

Mr Newton said: "Jake's illness made me realise how precious and special he was and, when Natasha was born, I felt I was missing out on so much as they grew, I knew I had to make a change in lifestyle or I'd only see them a few hours a week. I also wanted to make a contribution to the economy of the county I live in and love."

Business partner Dennis O'Sullivan had a similar dilemma.

He had a senior management role at DIY firm Homebase's head office which also meant staying away from home during the week.

Mr O'Sullivan said: "I worked for Sainsbury's for 30 years and worked my way through the management structure, holding a number of senior positions in the group.

"It was when I was the manager of the Lewes Road branch in Brighton I met Andrew. He joined the company as my deputy but left a couple of years later.

"I've worked around the Sussex area and for most of my career and I've always lived in the county "For the last three years I was with Homebase, which was sold to a venture capital company about 18 months ago.

"They made some changes and I had the opportunity to stay with them but I saw it as a chance to change my life."

The two had remained friends since working together and decided at the same time the pace of life in their high-powered jobs was not good for family life.

They started looking for opportunities to go into business together.

Mr Newton said: "It was June last year I decided to re-evalute my career and family life and that was the time Dennis was also looking for alternatives.

"It took us six months to decide what to do."

Their first enterprise was to buy up run-down properties on Brighton seafront and restore them to their former glory.

This made them asset rich but cash poor. They needed a business in which they would not have to wait six months before they earned any money.

They looked at a number of options before coming across the Fastway franchise opportunity.

Mr Newton said: "We chose to go with Fastway because we wanted to buy into a proven business that had real potential. Franchise opportunities give you a skeleton to work on. It is much easier than starting from scratch."

Mr O'Sullivan first heard about the courier firm when it was setting up in the UK.

It was founded in New Zealand in 1983 and plans to have operations in 35 country's by 2006.

They took on two territories, East and West Sussex, divided into 26 areas, each bought by owner-drivers.

Twelve have already started and they are looking for 14 more to join them.

Mr Newton said: "I liked the size of the industry. Two years ago, it was £4.2 billion and last year it was £5.7 billion.

I also saw with planned deregulation in the industry there was potential for growth.

"The industry has a poor reputation for customer service and that is something we intend to turn around. The drivers all own their own part of the business so they are keen to give good service and add customers.

"And we offer a cheaper and faster alternative to Royal Mail.

"A 25kg package will be delivered the next day by us for £2.95. Royal Mail charges £3.61 for next day delivery.

He said: "We both feel we made the right decision about the business and the right decision for our families."