A BOUNCY castle hire company set up five years ago with the proceeds of accumulated holiday pay is being offered for sale as a thriving business.

Style Leisure Bouncy Castles, of High Wycombe, was set up by Audrey Wixon

shortly after she left her job to look after her young family in 1996.

"I was sent a cheque by my previous employers for holiday I hadn't taken and used it to buy my first bouncy castle," she said.

"Having small children, it turned out I was in the right circle to pick up business and word soon spread."

Style Leisure now operates four castles, of various sizes, which are suitable for children aged from one to 16. These days, Audrey and her husband, David, of Georges Hill, Widmer End, are so busy during the summer they often have to turn business away.

"I never dreamed it could be so easy to make a business work," said Audrey.

"Bouncy castles just don't seem to go out of fashion. We hardly advertise at all yet from May to September the phone doesn't stop ringing."

As well as the castles and associated equipment, the sale of Style Leisure includes a database of customers, a website, a trailer and a generator for remote hires. A condition of the sale is that the new owners honour bookings already made for this season.

Audrey decided to sell the business because she has taken on a part-time job in web page design and wants to keep her weekends free for her children, who are now aged five and six.

"We don't do a collection-only service," said Audrey. "We decided at the outset to deliver, set up and collect our castles for every hire because people hosting a children's party don't need that extra stress.

"It means we can't venture far at weekends because that is our busiest time.

"That was fine when the children were younger but now we want to be free to go out as a family without having to rush back for the evening collections."

For more information, visit the website at www.bouncycastle.uk.com where the castles are pictured, or phone Audrey or David on (01494) 717771.