He used to build steel security shutters and anything metal.

Now Shepley born Oliver James is using his skills to fabricate something far more delicate – wedding cakes.

Oliver, 40, has been a star baker for the last four years but was solely based in his Brockholes home.

Now his business, Sugar Craft Creations, is growing he has decided to set up shop in Denby Dale.

The former Shelley High School pupil said his huge career change had come out of years of adversity after a mystery illness forced him to quit his metalworking.

“I was getting really tired and weak,” he said.

“It was going on for a long time and never seemed to get any better.

“I thought I had some kind of long-term virus but they couldn’t find anything.

“I was poked and prodded for about six months while they ruled almost everything out.

“That’s when they gave me the diagnosis of ME (aka Chronic Fatigue Syndrome).”

Oliver James Sugar Craft Creations has launched in Denby Dale.

With Oliver feeling he would be unable to carry on working in heavy-duty fabrication he decided to have a go at baking, something he’d done back at Shelley High more than 25 years ago.

“I did a course at Kirklees College and I was absolutely hooked,” he said.

Oliver did a range of other courses, building his skills until he felt he was in the right place to launch his own firm.

Just four years on and he is growing his business and is one of the only wedding cake bakers to do huge upside down “hanging cakes”.

“I used my fabricating skills and designed all the framework myself,” he said.

“The hanging cakes are popular in America but not many people do them here.

“People think it’s a massive challenge but it’s quite similar to some of the skills I used before in fabrication.”

Oliver James Sugar Craft Creations is based at Unit 4, Denby Dale Industrial Park off Wakefield Road.

Tel 01484 766430. Web: www.oliverjamessugarcraft.co.uk

Oliver James Sugar Craft Creations has launched in Denby Dale.