AN ex-soldier is launching an offensive on the home front!

And James Bateman is hoping to become a "household" name and a force to be reckoned with in Bury.

His thriving Home View Professional company embraces a host of home external and internal design services to change and improve properties and their gardens.

James combines brawn with brain - producing interior and exterior designs and doing the work himself.

James (27), explained: "I'm into exterior work but I also do internal home makeovers as well as designs.

"As far as my external work is concerned, I do landscaping. And if my customers want me to design and build a brand new garden, then I can do that too. Alternatively, when I'm designing an interior of a home, I use a storyboard which covers everything such as colours for the walls, wallpapers, light fittings, carpets and other elements."

His new role is something of a radical departure for James who enlisted with the Army at the age of 16. He joined the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and subsequently did Marine training. James left the Army six years ago and has spent his time perfecting his exterior gardening and interior design skills.

He explained: "I purchased a house and used it as a test place. I redecorated it, designed and changed the interior and after 18 months sold the same property for double the price."

James added: "Most of my work during the summer has involved flowers, botanics and laying out gardens. And I've been very busy for quite some time now."

In fact, one of his latest successes has been to transform the garden of a house in Seedfield Road, Bury, from an eyesore into an eye-catcher!

"The grass was about 3ft high and it looked as if it was an abandoned house," James continued. "I put in a raised patio and deck section and also created two flower beds and a sweeping path."