Graham Peaple is steaming ahead with the launch of a new ironing business in Melksham.

Singer and guitarist Mr Peaple, 50, is working flat out to shatter the age-old stereotype of bored housewives shackled to the ironing board.

The musician, who makes up half of Melksham band Music Express, is hoping to capitalise on the change in working trends, which have left many families little time to carry out time-consuming domestic chores.

Mr Peaple, who launched Crescent Ironing from his home in Crescent Road, hires a team of four women to carry out the work but is not afraid to smooth out the creases when things get busy.

He said: "When it gets hectic I do throw my hand in. I am not scared of a bit of housework.

"I am always getting comments about whether I actually do the ironing.

"I called on a hotel last week and the receptionist said 'here's the man that does the ironing for once'."

Mr Peaple is taking calls from new clients on a weekly basis with his business stretching across the county into Kennet, west and north Wiltshire.

Despite lending a hand when the ironing starts piling up, Mr Peaple acts as the company's delivery driver promising customers a two-day turnaround with door-to-door service.

All the women hired to iron have to go through a vetting process with no-smoking and no pets allow-ed.

Mr Peaple said the idea was given a financial boost with a small business loan from Lloyds TSB and he believes the venture will take off.

"It is a novel idea and I am confident it can succeed. I had to set everything up from scratch.

"There are a lot of people who hate ironing out there. I am getting phone calls in all the time.

"If it takes off there is the possibility I may have to employ another driver."

Mr Peaple has set up a website at www.ironing.org, for his new venture, in a bid to capture the wave of e-business.

He has also dropped hundreds of flyers through letterboxes in homes across Melksham.

"Customers are coming from all walks of life but they have one thing in common in that they all hate ironing," he said.

"My rates are competitive and I have a discount service for senior citizens."

Crescent Ironing can be reached on (01225) 705151.