A former rough sleeper who was helped to find a place to live and overcome drug and alcohol addiction is starting his own business.

Anil Parmar, 43, battled substance misuse for years before homelessness charity Broadway helped turn his life around.

The charity, based in Shepherd’s Bush, has provided £500 to enable Mr Parmar to set up Buzz Bike Hire, an electric bike hire scheme for tourists.

It has been the entrepreneur’s plan for several years, and thanks to a mentoring and business start-up programme run by Broadway, the idea is finally moving forward.

The scheme invites Broadway clients to pitch ideas to a panel of business figures who invest their own money for no return.

Mr Parmar, who lives in Hammersmith, was one of seven to win grants in the first round of funding last November. Another round was launched this week.

He said: “The start-up event was fantastic for me and also incredibly energising. It gave me both confidence in my idea and confidence in myself.”

He added: “I’d had this idea in my head for years but I’d never really had the chance to get it off the ground as I had no funds to do so until Broadway came along.

“I’m very excited about the project and where it’s going to go. I’ve completed short courses part-funded by Broadway, I have a business adviser, I’m going to seminars and I’ve got a new life.”

The charity supports more than 9,500 people a year in London and Oxford through work and learning services.

Anyone who would like to support the scheme or mentor business start-ups can visit www.broadwaylondon.org .