15645A FATHER and son from Trowbridge are hoping to head in the right direction with the launch of a new sign-making business.

Greg Suggitt, 47, a comedian and singer, is giving his 22-year-old son Gregory a helping hand with the launch of Unique Sign'z in Court Street.

Mr Suggitt, of Bradford Road, spent a year working at the former Just Signs firm in Andil House, Trowbridge, which closed six months ago when owner Mike Gillingham decided to move abroad.

Opening their new sign-writing firm in the same building, the father and son team are hoping for even greater success this time around.

Everything from street signs, to shop slogans will be created at the Trowbridge office using digital equipment.

Mr Suggitt said he would use his five years of experience in the printing industry to help his son build an established client base, before leaving him to run the business on his own.

"This is my son's first stab at a business but I am sure he will get on alright because he is conscientious and hard-working," he said.

"I hope to be able to leave the firm to him in about six months when he is up and running. He came up with the idea after being made redundant from his last job.

"This will be Trowbridge's only commercial sign-makers but we have competition in Bath and Melksham.

"We have already completed a few little jobs, with signs for a couple of vans and a hairdressers in Narrow Wine Street.

"The advantage of having the digital equipment is the client can come in and chose what they want in terms of layout and colours and see it before it is produced."

A launch party will be held at Andil House today, with potential customers and guests invited.

Mr Suggitt has taken his comedy act around the country over the past 10 years, including Blackpool Tower, Great Yarmouth and Dorset Steam Fair.

He has performed alongside acts like Manfred Mann and Somerset group The Wurzels, whose famous track I've Got a Brand-New Combine Harvester, was played to housemates in the latest series of Channel 4's Big Brother.

Before developing his comedy act, Mr Suggitt was a singer and guitar player, who took his act across Europe to Greece, Germany and Italy.