Local 'can man' Pete Bechervaise's business is expanding after doing well over the pandemic.

Pete's company Gorilla Canning supplies a small bench-top machine which is used to seal aluminium drink cans that the firm also supplies.

This has allowed businesses like local cocktail outlet Dark Bear to offer takeaway and delivery for their drinks - as they can put their cocktails into cans in-house.

With business doing well, Gorilla Canning has moved to Gore Cross Business Park with plans to create two to three more jobs later this year.

Pete, who founded the company, studied chemical engineering at university, before working for the beer company AB-InBev. He then set up a street food company in London.

He said that it was while working at the food company he came up with the idea: "During the set-up of the street food company we looked at how we could be as sustainable as possible, using zero plastic packaging, and also comparing the non-plastic alternatives' environmental impact.

"We found that on balance, aluminium cans are the most sustainable drinks packaging.

"There was no option to can our own drinks on the spot at the time so we dropped the idea.

"When that business didn't work out I followed up on the idea to see if we could develop canning machines small enough and cheap enough for businesses to use for takeaway drinks."

Pete chose the name Gorilla Canning because of a long time fascination with natural history and wildlife conservation, and says that as soon as the business is able they plan to contribute in some manner.

He added: "I grew up in Bridport so there was that attraction to come home.

"But Bridport also has a lot of advantages for start up businesses that you just can't get in bigger cities.

"We started out on St Michael's Trading Estate which supports small businesses like nowhere else I've seen.

"As a manufacturing company, having control over quality and supply chain is really important, and there's no shortage of engineering companies to work closely with in Bridport.

"We're now in Gore Cross Business Park and just a short walk from 90% of our suppliers."