THE traditional image of a soot-stained chimney sweep could be a thing of the past thanks to a Bradford man's invention.

Lashman Singh, who was a chimney sweep for 30 years, has invented a new range of products which he believes could transform the process of lining and cleaning chimneys, He is hoping his new range of hearth sheets will go global and is targetting countries where traditional coal and peat fires and stoves are still common .

His new Sweepmate products include sheets in five different sizes to fit every hearth and are suitable for traditional sweeping, power sweeping and dust extraction, as well as allowing sweeping in different directions.

The range can also be used for chimney lining, while additional sheets with single sweeping access points have also been purpose-designed to clean stove pipes. Sweepmate also features a seal-tight aperture for rod access.

Lashman Singh said: “There has never been a product like this in the entire history of chimney sweeping and I have high hopes that Sweepmate can become a true friend of chimney sweeps and liners in countries where traditional coal and peat fires and stoves are still widely used.

“There is far less mess. It will help people who work in the trade to do a cleaner and more professional job – they certainly won’t get soot on their face!" .

He says there is huge potential where wood-burning stoves are commonplace, , notably the United States, while Ireland is also seen as a major target market.

Indian-born Lashman arrived in the UK in 1957 as a seven-year-old and originally worked as a stonemason and bricklayer, before launching his own chimney sweeping business in 1980 from his home in Maythorne Crescent, Clayton.

The inspiration for his new invention actually came from a medical drama television series.

He said: “I was watching television and saw a surgeon swab up. He was standing there with his arms stretched out and a nurse brought his gown and he put his arms through the sleeves.

“That is when the idea for Sweepmate first came to me. It was quite some time ago and I have waited until what I now feel is the right time to first develop, then introduce the product.”

He launched Sweepmate at the Harrogate Fireplace Exhibition earlier this year and received a positive reaction. His product also scooped the best new product award at the 2015 Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps trade show.

Lashman is a founder member of both the Guild and the National Association of Chimney Sweeps, of which he is also a former vice-president.