A NORTH Yorkshire accountant has swapped a life with fine furniture for a career at a health club.

Steve Catton has balanced the books at antiques dealer, Tomlinsons of Tockwith, for more than a decade. But he has bid a fond farewell to the business, which is the UK's largest volume wholesaler of antique furniture, and become Finance Director of the Academy Health Club in Harrogate.

Mr Catton said: "After so long with Tomlinsons it was almost as if I was part of the family, or maybe a piece of the furniture. I have really enjoyed my time here, but I am very excited to be facing new challenges and am looking forward to the added bonus of free health club membership.

"It is not really good-bye, more like au-revoir. I am hoping to tempt some of my old colleagues to join me at the gym and no doubt my wife and myself will be back at Tomlinsons to shop."

Updated: 09:39 Tuesday, June 17, 2003