Jim Mullarkey's family business Custom Alarms will feature on billboard advertisements across the north east promoting new online company signposter.com

The company has chosen Newcastle to launch its new service for small businesses to design their own advert from a vast archive of images and graphics to feature on local poster sites of their choice.

Jim said he was delighted at his business being chosen to front the campaign, but thought it was a wind-up at first.

"I couldn't believe it when I got a phone call out the blue from signposter.com asking me if I wanted to be the company they used in their launch," said the 58-year-old.

"I thought it was a wind up by You've Been Framed or Metro FM's Tony Horne in the Morning!"

The father-of-two set the business up 25 years ago, and has just two employees who install security and fire alarms to homes and businesses in the region.

He added: "I've always just relied on word of mouth advertising, but when this opportunity came along I couldn't believe it.

"I'm really proud to have my 15 minutes of fame after all these years of hard work."

Simon Read, of signposter.com described the website simplifying advertising for small local businesses.

"When small businesses look at big poster sites they often see Coca Cola or Ford, and think they could never afford a poster, never mind know where to go to book one," he said.

"Now we can help them advertise their company in a big way through our simple little website.

"The site is straightforward to use, and is aimed at local people who run their own business.

Signposter.com is hosting a workshop at The Assembly Rooms in Newcastle on Thursday, May 29, at 8am.

The event is free and, businesses can register at www.signposter.com