A mechanic is encouraging fellow dyslexia sufferers to "dream big" after opening his own business.

Jake Hollis from Sedgley opened HSR Midlands at the Delph Industrial Estate, Brierley Hill, at the start of the month. It is a huge milestone for the former Dormston High School pupil, who admits he found studying "difficult".

However he had "a lot of support" from Nova Training, which offered him offsite training for auto mechanics as an alternative to GCSEs.

When he was 15, Jake joined a Renault training academy, based in Doncaster, and graduated when he was 18. He then spent three years working for the main dealer and another Renault specialist before deciding to go it alone.

"I never thought I would have opened my own business at the age of 23," he said.

"But with the support of friends and family and hard work, I knew there was more out there for me. I would say to other people with dyslexia to dream big and don’t let it defeat you."

Although the business is a Renault specialist, Jake also offers general maintenance and repairs to other makes and models.

He also wants to use his business to give other people a helping hand, with plans afoot to take on an apprentice within the next 12 months.