WHAT a birthday surprise to have – to be told that you are the first person in Wales to receive funding from the New Enterprise Allowance.

Well, that's exactly what has happened to Chepstow man, Richard Seaton who has just received a grant to launch his new spinal therapy practice.

Richard applied for the funding back in February and is the first person in Wales to benefit from the March changes to government policy on 'Return-to-work' funding. Bob Train, who is the Business Advisor at the Centre for Business which runs the Welsh Government's Business Start Up Service, helped Richard with his business plan.

Richard said: "It feels so good to have governmental support and encouragement with this venture, and nice to be able to start this new project on April 10 which happens to be the day after my 60th birthday! I hope my success will encourage other people over 50 to look at a new career."

Richard and his wife Averil, who moved to the area last year, has worked as a McTimoney chiropractor in the Chichester and Southampton area for more than 16 years.

He continued: "I now exclusively use Spinal Therapy, often coupled with traditional Chen Tai Chi, and a unique and effective form of meditation to help my patients keep themselves healthier.

"I want to teach people to take care of their bodies better, swapping harmful habits for better ones."

Richard will be working with several other professional therapists at the Chepstow Natural Health Centre in Hocker Hill Street.

He added: "I'm hoping to establish a regular growing clinic – I can't thank Bob Train enough for helping me get access to local government funding. He has helped me no end to create and develop my business plan."