LUCY Ashburner has a head for business - not for heights!

But the 24-year-old businesswoman from Ramsbottom took the plunge by investing £70,000 in two German manufactured "spider lift" hydraulic aerial platforms which can rise 15 metres.

The machines, among only a handful in the UK, have been bought by Higher Access, a company launched in June by Lucy and her mum and dad, Ruth and Peter.

One of the firm's first tasks was to erect a 40-ft television aerial on top of a parade of shops in Ramsbottom in time for the World Cup.

Lucy, who used to manage a B&Q store in Bolton before becoming a partner in the family business, said: "The new machines are used primarily for roof and window work at height. They are fitted and operated with Caterpillar-like tracks.

"In fact, the German hydraulic aerial platforms are quite unique and there are only around another three others in the country.

"The platforms are articulated and that means they can reach over things.

"They are also of a compact dimension and we can fit them through a standard doorway."Lucy is confident that the new working at height regulations will bring in business, with platforms being preferred to scaffolding. But not everybody can stand comfortably in the platform cage on the fully extended arm.

"I must say I'm afraid of heights," she admitted.

"But I'm a bit more used to it now since we got the machines. As far as the job is concerned, I love every minute of it because of the variety."

Dad Peter, who runs Cobden Glass in Ramsbottom, was the catalyst for the new business. When he harnessed hydraulic platforms for his own roof and window work, he realised how useful the machines were and Higher Access was born.