A BURY business advisory firm is carving a successful niche in the fast-expanding sport and leisure sector.

DTE Insurance Brokers have developed a specialised service for sporting start-ups, enabling ventures which had stalled for lack of cover to get off to flying starts.

The firm, based at Hollins Mount, has become the UK's leading motorsport circuit insurance broker, acting for more than 100 venues, after working extensively with the National Karting Association.

DTE has also been active in skateboarding, providing tailored cover for a major Midlands venue which had been unable to get off the ground after more than 100 brokers and companies failed to obtain insurance.

Other clients include cricket and football clubs, "laser" venues, 4 x 4 sites, quad tracks, water sport centres, skate parks, mountain boarding and paintballing facilities.

DTE Insurance Brokers managing director Mike McNulty said: "As a result of our involvement in paintballing, we have been consulted on proposed safety wear for the activity. We are currently working with product designers, manufacturers and insurers to promote the benefits of safety wear."

Mr McNulty added: "Several organisations had approached the insurance market for quotations without any success before being referred to us by existing clients.

"In some cases, there was a question mark over a business' ability to continue trading because of difficulties obtaining cover and we were able to remove this question mark."