Roger Nuttall's life was turned upside down when he was diagnosed with bowel cancer 18 months ago.

It was the start of a long treatment process which would involve four operations, three months of chemotherapy and treatment for hospital superbug C. diff.

The experience gave Roger, who is 60 this week, the opportunity to reflect on his life.

Now out of hospital, he has decided to pursue his childhood ambition and following in the footsteps of six generations of his family business.

He has set up a new online business from his home in Bishop's Cleeve selling nostalgic building materials, including stained glass windows and fireplaces.

The brave businessman says his time convalescing spurred him on to make a long standing dream a reality.

Roger said: "When I was diagnosed with bowel cancer it was devastating.

"I went through four serious operations, months of chemotherapy and even came out of hospital with Clostridium difficile.

"But when I was seriously ill I was able to reflect on what had been and what could be.

"I regretted not following a tradition of stone masonry that dates back some six generations."

Roger came up with the idea of an e-business which would sell rare and difficult to source nostalgic building materials.

He spent time from his hospital bed researching the idea and decided there was a need for a company to source rare materials.

Roger added: "A couple of friends visited me and had experienced great difficulty in finding suitable flagstones for their grade II-listed building.

"When I came out of hospital four weeks ago I knew I could make it work."

Roger has now developed a website and hopes it will be a success.

He added: "I saw my consultant in Birmingham last week and he is happy with my progress. I'm not out of the woods yet but I'm just happy to have been able to put my business idea into practice.

"I hope it will plug a gap in the market and help people with their search for older building materials."

For more information visit www.nostalgia-building-supplies.co.uk