THERE'S a new man up the chimneys in Worcestershire.

Forty-two years old Mark Yeomans has set up a chimney sweep business covering the Kidderminster area and the north of the county. Mr Yeomans, who has launched Wilkins Chimney Sweep, previously worked in the van accessory market. He said: "I've had the odd Mary Poppins comment but most people say ‘you don't see many of those around these days' or ‘is there any call for that anymore?'; naturally I tell them ‘most definitely yes'!"

The chimney sweeping sector is seeing somewhat of a boom as more people install wood burning stoves in their homes in an effort to save on costly fuel bills. Additionally, in April the Government launched the Renewable Heat Incentive, which reimburses households that generate and use renewable energy to heat their buildings, such as by using a wood-fired, bio-mass boiler. Keeping the chimneys of open fires, wood burners and range ovens clean and free from blockages is crucial to avoid chimney fires and possible carbon monoxide poisoning.

Mr Yeomans' new job involves sweeping all types of chimneys (including wood burners and solid fuel stoves), removing nests and fitting cages, caps and cowls to homes and businesses.