by Matt Charles

A nine-year-old autistic boy is piecing together a bright future - as an online entrepreneur!

Josh Orbay, nine, of Dunkirk Drive, Walderslade helped set up a revolutionary website, K'nex Spares, which trades pieces of the popular construction toy for as little as a penny.

He said: “It’s going well and really good. I am on about my 67th order.”

Josh, who suffers from Asperger's and ADHD, was inspired to start his own online shop over a year ago, when he was given a set which didn't have the right pieces in it.

Josh’s dad, Brian Orbay, said: “It was his idea. He had lots of K’nex but there were bits missing in all his sets, which was really annoying him.

“He started making good sets and he ended up with loads of spares.

“So I said to him, I will sell them on eBay and then he can have the money to buy more spares or sets.

“And he said why don’t set you me up with an online shop and I can sell my stuff online?”

"my wallet is at home right now, but it has got about £60 in it. i know how much is in my bank, but i am not telling you that" – josh orbay

Josh takes a major interest in the daily running of K’nex Spares.

Brian said: “He does all the buying, counts all the stock out and sorts it out into all the individual pieces.

“He has got his own email account, so he checks all his emails every day to see if he has got any sales.

“Then he comes out with me to his stockroom and checks to see what stock we have got.”

Josh’s stockroom is a £200 shed from B&Q, which he bought from his own money.

Brian said: “He just walked in and said I want one of those for my stock.

"The woman thought I was buying it, so she looked at me and I was like 'no, this is him. He is the one buying it'.”

Josh’s mum, Nadine said: “It has given him something to work for. He understands the value of money, and how the bigger things he wants, he had to build up money and pay for it himself.

“To be honest I don’t have a lot to do with it, it is mainly him and my husband.

"I’ll keep an eye out for the odd things, and help them count, when it is spread all over the front room floor, and you cannot walk from the sofa to the door.”

Josh said he is excited about the future of K’nex Spares and business this year.

He said: “My wallet is at home right now, but it has got about £60 in it. I know how much is in my bank, but I am not telling you that.”