A man who created a beach in the Midlands is embarking on a new venture – selling playground equipment to one of the most war-torn countries in Africa.

Stephen Hammon’s quad pods are starting to generate such demand that even a new fun park in the Democratic Republic of Congo has placed an order.

The pods are mini carriages for children towed by a quad bike.

So far, the made-to-order pods have been shipped to a caravan park in France, a National Trust property in Northern Ireland and Castle Rednock Trekking Centre in Scotland.

Mr Hammon said the Congo interest for the pods used at his man-made beach at the Heart of England Conference Centre in Fillongley, Warwickshire, arose after they were seen on eBay.

He said: “It is a spin-off from the beach. Obviously we run them around the park and wanted to see if somebody else would be interested.

“I am always designing different things. I have two lads who put them together here and different companies welding, cutting and making them, then we put them together.

“I think they will be big – the kids love them.”

Speaking of the Congo order, he added: “Someone came from London to take a look and liked our boats and quad pods and placed an order.

“She is doing a little park over in the Congo and fancied them to take over there.”

Mr Hammon has teamed up with GAV Developments and Security in Exhall to use British galvanised steel to produce the pods.

The pods meet the requirements of the Health and Safety Executive and Mr Hammon is carrying out research to guage the demand for quad pods for disabled children and adults.

Mr Hammon added: “We are just building the business up. I also have some designs for trains and carriages.

“We are really pleased with the initial success and it is an area we are looking to expand.

“We are diversifying into manufacturing boat trains and mini trains which are also ideal for transporting youngsters around a large site in a fun and friendly way.

“We have already booked a stand at the National Farms Attractions Network Conference at Drayton Manor next February because we think this could be an untapped market.”

The orders came after Mr Hammon was told his beach attraction would have to be destroyed after a planning appeal was thrown out.

He was given a three-month deadline to remove the tourist attraction he built without planning permission four years ago. The order came after a Government inspector ruled the £1.4 million venture – which includes an adventure playground, a sandy beach and a boating lake – was in breach of green belt regulations.