WEST Thurrock has just said hello to its first Romany gypsy multi-millionaire.

Alfie Best, 45, has moved the headquarters of his string of national businesses, Wyldecrest Parks, from Rainham to London Road.

The self-made businessman, who owned his first business at 15, runs 44 mobile home parks across the UK, as well as restaurant chain Rare Cow and bar chain Vinyl Parks.

Mr Best said it had chosen Thurrock because of its “forwardthinking” reputation.

He said: “I made my own investigations and was surprised that Thurrock had come along in leaps and bounds in terms of the businesses attracted to the area.”

In a true rags-to-riches story, Mr Best says he is no stranger to overcoming prejudice, having conquered many hurdles in his path to the top.

Starting work at the age of ten, Mr Best remembers growing up with his mum cooking outside in a steel pan.

Lunch with former Prime Minister John Major, as well as being a keynote speaker at an HSBC conference of 500-plus banking heads, shows just how far he has come.

He said: “Each hurdle just made me more determined. We came from a very, very, very poor family. But I still see myself very much as a Romany gypsy.

“You have to know where you are from to know where you are going.”

And it seems his son Alfie Best Jr is following in his dad’s footsteps.

Alfie Jr, 17, whohas just bought his first mobile home park in Billericay, is soon to star in his second Channel 4 documentary Rich Kids Go Shopping following the success of My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding.