Though he had to remortgage his home, Darren Smith's snap decision to buy four limousines meant the former lorry driver had a whole new career. LEIGH ROBINSON reports.

When Darren Smith took his brother to the USA for a holiday he brought back a somewhat unusual present for his wife Sam. Four stretch limos at a cost of £200,000 and she didn't bat an eyelid.

"It was a bit of an impulse buy," said the 36-year-old lorry driver, and the couple from Liden are now running 1st Stretch executive car hire, and business is starting to hot up.

"Last week, with the youngsters on their proms, we were pretty busy and our bookings are looking good."

Before he went to America, Darren said he never thought of doing this line of work.

"I had gone to Florida to see my best man, who lives there now, and took my brother Nick with me," said Darren.

"When we were in Texas I saw these four vehicles for sale. They were practically new and I thought I've got to have them'."

After buying them Darren had to sort out the finance, get them back to the UK and, although it was quite daunting, Sam backed him every inch of the way.

"We had to remortgage our home and the cars came back via Southampton docks 28 days after they left the States.

"That was a bit worrying because I had shelled out the money and I wasn't even sure that it was going to be my cars coming off the ship.

"It could have been something else. But at the end of the day there was no need to worry because there they were."

Of his new acquistions three are Lincoln Town Cars which have 4.6-litre V8 engines which can actually do 20 miles to the gallon.

The fourth is a 7.3-litre V10 Ford Excursion where the consumption can be somewhat less.

"The Lincolns are just normal cars which have been literally made bigger by 120 inches.

"They have everything in them air con, television screens, lighting displays and a music system.

"I can only take eight passengers because that's what the law says, even though people think you can have 10 or 12 in the back of these cars."

Insurance for each of the vehicles is about £1,000 per car and Darren has taken all the examinations which allow him to chauffeur the public. Those certificates go with his HGV 1 driving licence.

"When I did my deal in the States I got the cars at quite a good price.

"But then I had to pay import duty and on top of that, right at the very end, was the VAT, so it mounted up a bit."

After their start of life in the USA the vehicles are now part of the UK and our idiosycrasies.

So when people step into the back of a 1st Stretch car all the little details like balloons, drinks, colour co-ordination has been done by Sam.

"That's the bit I really enjoy," she said. "I used to work with hotels and conferences before I had the kids and now they are past being toddlers I can get back to work."

What the couple have to do is to clean each of the vehicles so they are spotless before the next booking.

"We can't have people going to Ascot in posh clothes if the seats aren't properly clean," said Sam.

If you want to go to London to see a show the cost will be £320, which works out at £40 per person, which is cheaper than the train.

For more information go to www.1ststretch.com or ring 01793 324946.