The corner shop business that became Greater Manchester' 'fourth emergency service'

Two brothers who started a family business from a corner shop ended up running the largest independent motor accessory and spares chain in the north west.

Jim McKenna was only 21-years old when, alongside his brother Tony, they started their company Motorland from a corner shop in Eccles in 1969. Recently married to his sweetheart Elaine, Jim said his financial prospects were "going nowhere" until he and his brother hit upon the idea to start a motor parts and accessories business.

"I had nothing to lose, that was the difference.," Jim said. "When people start off and they have a secure job and an income coming in it's very hard for that person to then gamble it on starting a new business.

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"But I was going nowhere really, so we put the money together and went from there."

Jim and Tony's business soon began to bring in money. About 18-months after opening their shop in Eccles, they opened a second Motorland in Wythenshawe.

Their business continued to grow and eventually became the largest chain of its kind in the north west, with 25 outlets across Greater Manchester.

"Back in the day it wasn't like today - cars were more of a necessity," Jim said. "At that time people used to buy a car, not just for the transport side of it, but to work on it as well.

"Cars then weren't as complicated, there was no computers. Literally all the cars were built in a format that you could replace parts yourself.

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"In those days you could change the panels, you could change engine and steering parts, and that's where we saw an opening. There were accessory shops