OFFERING Internet access to a village pub has turned a one-man band into a multi-million pound business employing 27 people nationwide.

Chris Stephenson launched the first 'Public Internet Info Point' at the Royal Oak in Hirst Courtney just six months ago - now he is providing access to the web to 15 companies all over the UK.

Numbering a Scottish museum among his clients, Chris, a morris-dancer and folk-festival organiser in his spare time, has taken on six new staff in Hirst Courtney and 20 sales staff nationwide.

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

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

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

"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 said, "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.

Completing the pub connection, one of his partners working in the Hirst Courtney office is Keith Simpson, whose wife Susan runs the Brown Cow Brewery based in Barlow.

Dave Whitley, from the Royal Oak, said: "The computer in the pub has worked a treat.

"It is great for the pub and is great for the village.

"It really has opened up the Internet to the villagers, many of whom many never have used it otherwise."

Mr Stephenson added that the company offer preferential rates to churches and charities as an alternative form of fund-raising and anyone interested should contact the company on 01757 270370.

PICTURE: Surfing the Internet at the Royal Oak, Hirst Courtney are (l-r) Audrey Price, Margaret Armstrong and Linda Thompson.