An Aberdeenshire businessman ended 2020 on a high note by launching a new business venture.

He made an investment of £170,000 to establish the Fordoun-based Grampian Trailer Centre Scotland, which stocks top quality Cheval Liberte horse trailers, Debon box trailers including motorcycle trailers and Wessex general-purpose trailers.

Offering features such as Pullman suspension, onboard tack rooms and front unloading ramps, the Cheval Liberte range has already had three new models added for 2021.

Meanwhile, the Debon box trailers feature a unique two-in-one door which can open horizontally, or vertically.

Founder Ruari McLachlan, who also heads inshore workboat operator, McLachlan Marine, from the same site, said: “Through sister company, we already have a lot of experience in selling boat trailers across many years, so this was a natural progression for our business and an important diversification at the end of a turbulent year.

“Our existing headquarters at the old airfield at Fordoun give us an abundance of space from which to operate – not only are we able to display our wide range of trailers across a quarter of an acre but we can also let clients try them out to make sure they are buying exactly what they need.

“Another huge bonus is that we will be able to stock more than 30 trailers at any given time, meaning that people can drive away with their trailer on the day of purchase rather than waiting through frustrating and long manufacture lead-times.”