A FORMER lorry driver is hoping to be sitting pretty after a career move.

Bernard Daniels recently completed a BA (Hons) degree in Furniture at the University of Central Lancashire, Preston, and hopes to make a career out of his talent.

The father-of-one, from Darwen, said: "It's really nice to create something which is in 3D form and is interactive."

He has always been interested in art and design but, by his own admission the forty-something has had numerous jobs, including fitting jukeboxes and sound systems in most of the pubs in Lancashire.

For seven years he was an HGV driver until a gall bladder operation forced him to stop.

"I had always had to earn a living. If you wanted a home you had to have money and to get money you had to work," he said. "I still did art for a hobby, such as customising motorbikes and cars. For a while I worked for a company designing T-shirts."

When he gave up driving on doctors' advice, Bernard decided to pursue his hobby and make use of his talents -- so he went back to school. After completing a two-year HND course in Design and Make at Burnley College Bernard joined the second year of a three-year degree course at Preston.

"It was a mega step. I was so used to having money all the time and a solid income but I just decided I had to do something with my time," said Bernard. "It was a strange environment to me, but I found it fascinating."