SITTING in his local, supping a pint of Old Peculier, you would never guess that the morris-dancer cum folk festival organiser in front of you was at the helm of a multi-million pound cutting edge business.

Offering Internet access to a village pub has turned this one-man band into an expanding business employing more than 30 people nationwide.

Chris Stephenson launched the first 'Public Internet Info Point' at the Royal Oak in Hirst Courtney, near Selby, just six months ago - now he is providing access to the web to 40 companies all over the UK.

Numbering a Scottish museum among his clients, Chris has taken on six new staff in Hirst Courtney and more than 20 sales staff nationwide - a move to a bigger office has had to take place, "there just wasn't enough room".

The company PiiP leases Internet-ready computers to shops, museums, pubs and tourist information boards and customers buy cards to give them access to the web.

Now, after just a few months, Chris is ready to bid for the Evening Press' New Business of the Year Award and the Innovative Use of New Technology title.

"It is a very simple idea really," says the 45-year-old whose business is expecting to turn over £4 million this coming year.

"We provide a means for the 90 per cent of the population who cannot get onto to the Internet, to do so.

"It has worked a wonder at the Royal Oak and as a result of press coverage the business has grown.

"We have done deals with national computer companies and are providing the system to people in Scotland, Wales, down in London and we soon be providing it for a user in Northern Ireland."

He explains that the success has been based around the fact that everybody benefits.

"The customers get cheap Internet access," he says, "and those running the computers can make a healthy profit from the sale of the cards."

Mr Stephenson has previously run electrical companies manufacturing other pub products such as jukeboxes and fruit machine security systems.

He also used to work for English Heritage, where he installed computer systems - including one at Stonehenge.

Keith Simpson, the company's sales director, is leading an ever-expanding dedicated team of sales staff around the UK.

"We are placing great emphasis on training, this is a great product we are offering, and we want to make sure the message gets across clearly," he says.

"We have some big plans for the future, but we are keeping our feet on the ground and keeping our projections realistic."

PICTURE: Chris Stephenson surfs the net at his local