EMBARKING on a new direction in the travel industry is Bury businesswoman Ann Barber.

While she busily sources exotic holiday destinations for clients, 50-year-old Ann is more than happy at being home.

She has given up working for agencies in the high street by becoming one of more than 250 ABTA bonded personal travel counsellors, a nationwide network of homeworkers.

Travel Counsellors, which has been listed in the Sunday Times/Virgin Atlantic Fast Track 100 list of Britain's most rapidly expanding businesses for the last four consecutive years, was formed in 1994. It is regarded as the pioneer of homeworking in the UK travel industry.

Ann explained: "Because I'm totally independent, I can deal with a lot more companies. I'm learning every day, dealing with firms I'd never heard of before."

She worked in outside travel agencies for 30 years and was based at Bury and later at the Trafford Centre. Ann subsequently managed a large travel store in Blackburn before deciding to work from home.

"The high street is now out of date," she reckons. "I can now work from my own house, using my laptop. I can arrange home visits for people, particularly the disabled, who can't make it into travel agencies during their normal office hours."

Ann, of Regent Street, added: "Because I'm a personal travel consultant, I can be totally independent and do the best for each customer."

She has already secured business from friends and former clients and is relishing the new found freedom working from home affords.

"To be honest, I was sick of being told what do do. Although I had been a manager before, I wasn't allowed to manage totally. Plus, I've turned 50 and I didn't see the industry going in the right direction as far as high street agents were concerned.

"It's just wonderful being on my own as a self-employed travel counsellor."