A CHILDHOOD ambition has led to it being a real family affair for one Redditch man who has drafted in his parents, brothers, in-laws and cousins to help run his business.

Simon Thomas set up Thomas Brothers Funeral Directors seven years ago and has since carried out almost 3,000 funerals.

Mr Thomas said: "I always wanted to become a funeral director. After my grandmother died I thought I could have made her funeral better than it was."

During his time at school Mr Thomas wrote dozens of letters to funeral directors asking for work and he was eventually offered a placement with a local firm.

"I worked there for two years and then when I was 20 I did some other things for a bit before coming back into the funeral director business.

"I always said I wanted to own my own funeral directors by the time I was 30 and I just did it."

Seven years ago Thomas Brothers was created and before long Mr Thomas's mum, dad, brothers, cousins and in-laws were working for the company.

His mum and sister-in-law make sure the deceased's hair is washed and styled and women are made-up to look perfect, dressed in either a robe from the company or clothes chosen by relatives.

"Mum always says when they go to the gates they have to look perfect. It will be the last picture a relative has of their loved one," said Mr Thomas.

Bereaved families can say their goodbyes in one of two chapels where they can also play their chosen music in memory of their relative.

The Crabbs Cross company carries out more than 400 funerals a year and Mr Thomas said each one was different.

"We have carried out funerals for victims of terrorism, people who have died in traumatic ways and people who have died from natural causes. A funeral directors should be part of the community," he added.