The Last Strap Hanging Window Washer In New York

Those sash windows. The last strap hanging window washer in New York.

The last strap hanging window washer in New York: This video shows the last known strap hanging window washer in New York. Charlie, on the eleventh floor of Manhattan’s Chanin Building, opens a metal clamp attached to a leather strap around his waist and swings out, pinning it to one corner of the window frame. After attaching the second clamp, he gets to work suspended high above 42nd street.

According to YouTuber Giselle Benatar, he cleans all the windows of the Chanin Building which is sixty stories high. The Chanin building still has windows that open by sliding up and down, in other buildings, these have been replaced with new windows that flip in and out meaning you can wash them from the inside.

Benatar says, “most buildings no longer need window washers with Charlie’s formidable free-form suspension skills.” The union says he’s the last strap hanging window washer in the city.

Nerves of Steel: Last strap hanging window washer in New York (by Giselle Benatar): A sharp rap on my office door, and there stands Charlie. “You got flowers,” he says,"You need those windows washed.” I warily agree, so he carefully removes the flower pots from my window sill and plants his work boots. Opening a metal clamp attached to a leather strap around his waist, he swings out and pins it to one corner of the outside window frame. My office window is eleven stories up in Manhattan's famous Chanin Building, mind you…. Oh my god - don't look down!

Charlie calmly attaches a second clamp and sets to work, suspend high above the cars and buses furiously inching their way along 42nd street. He cleans the windows of all sixty stories of the Chanin Building. I try hard not to picture him doing this sixty stories up. The Chanin still has windows that open by sliding up and down, he explains. In other buildings, they’ve replaced these with new windows that flip in and out, the kind you can wash from the inside. Most buildings no longer need window washers with Charlie's formidable free-form suspension skills.

He thought about retiring to Florida with his wife. They went down for a week’s vacation, but ended up coming back two days early. "Nothing to do there. People walked around like this," he says, mimicking a sleepwalking zombie. So he's back where he belongs, hanging eleven stories above the streets of New York. He's the last strap hanging window-washer in the city. They asked around at the union, and no one else came forward. Inspired by Humans of New York, I had to capture this. See how he does it!

Too Good To Be True?

Marathon runner Mark Vaz. Is this a case of too good to be true?

Chariots of Fire or Walter Mitty? Doubts raised over runner's incredible Land's End to John o'Groats claim: Taken at face value, it ranks as one of the all-time greatest feats of human endurance. On Sunday Mark Vaz, a 32-year-old window cleaner from Staffordshire, completed an 860-mile charity run from Land’s End to John O’Groats, and posed proudly with a sign showing his time of 7 days, 18 hours and 45 minutes, a staggering 31 hours faster than the 14-year-old record for the journey.

Shortly after reaching his goal, he submitted an application to Guinness World Records to have his achievement ratified, and his place in long-distance running history seemed assured.

Mark Vaz pictured towards the end of his run.

But the tightly-knit community of Britain’s ultra-distance runners has now challenged his claim, describing his time as “inconceivable” and branding him a fantasist.

One respected running blogger said it was “just not possible” for a “middle of the pack social runner” to knock more than a day off a record that top-class athletes had failed to beat, while another pointed out that Mr Vaz’s own updates on social media suggested he had run the last 156 miles in little more than 24 hours.

Mr Vaz’s response has been at times contradictory. In the past week he has said he is the victim of jealousy; that he will prove his doubters wrong by repeating the feat; that he is withdrawing his application to Guinness World Records; that he is taking legal action, and that he is giving up running altogether.

Mr Vaz’s Land’s End to John O’Groats run was part of an attempt to run 400 marathons in 400 days, which would also be a record.

Prior to his run, Mr Vaz had a poster made, which he put on his support van, which read: "World Record Attempt, Lands End to John O' Groats.” During the run he kept followers updated with his progress, tweeing: “On target for the world record.”

After the run he changed his Facebook profile picture to an image of himself standing underneath the John O' Groats sign pointing at Land’s End, with white writing which read: "LEJOG 7 days 18 hours 45 minutes." The official Guinness World Record for the run is 9 days 2 hours 26 mins, set by Briton Andrew Rivett in 2002, who ran for an average of 18 hours per day.

Other runners were incredulous. Ross Woodward, whose father Cavin Woodward held the world record for the fastest 100 mile run on a track in 1975, said: "If he hasn't done it in that time, then he hasn't done the full run at all – there's no middle ground.  

"If it turned out he had done it, it would be fantastic and he needs to show credible evidence of this."

Mr Vaz, who claimed he was being trolled on social media and subjected to death threats, released a statement on his Facebook page before later deleting it.

It said: “In regards to running and this record I never once stated I beat it or wanted to beat it, I did it for charity which is close to me to raise money. Unfortunately I won't be doing any more due to it affecting my health.

“I will not be going to Guinness now and making it official as I have been hounded by a number of people and it all makes it now all very bitter. Either way I can't win.”

The following day he said he was standing by his stated time after all, and was in contact with Guinness World Records.

“All I feel now is sour grapes,” he said. “I do not even need to comment on the allegations, I know my time and so do my support team who were there with me. If people do not like what I have achieved then that is up to them.”

Andy Nuttall of ULTRA Magazine, who has donated money to Mr Vaz’s fundraising page, said: "I have been following the Mark Vaz story with interest over the last year, and in particular the last week where his running has become less and less credible.

“There is doubt about his attempt – but I’m afraid it’s more than that.

"A performance of this magnitude would, in my professional opinion, propel Mark to the status not only of the greatest UK ultra runner, but probably they greatest ultra runner who ever lived.

“I have already spoken with Guinness about his World Record submission, giving them detailed pointers, if not evidence, as to why this is incredible.”

Dan Park, another ultra-running blogger, said: “It would be the ultimate Rocky storyline. Sadly it appears that this questionable run is beginning to unravel before Mark’s eyes and there is no Rocky script to be played out on the big screen. It seems far closer to a Walter Mitty spin off.”

Mr Vaz took to marathon running after his wife Tammy suffered a series of miscarriages, and has raised more than £3,500 for the baby charity Tommy’s and for Katharine House Hospice.

Last year Mr Vaz featured in national newspapers after running 53 marathons in 53 days, which he also said was a record. He managed to run his marathons while still completing his daily window cleaning round in Penkridge, near Cannock.

Guinness World Records said Mr Vaz did not hold any official running records. A spokesman said:  "It would be great to ratify this amazing achievement. We welcome Mark to continue with his application and submit his evidence for review to achieve the Guinness World Records title."

When The Daily Telegraph contacted Mr Vaz, his wife said: “We are taking legal action. I’m not speaking to anyone.”

Also see:

Meet The Super Human Window Cleaner

The UK Elite Champion Window Cleaners

This Window Cleaner's Still Going

Window Clean, Run 90 Marathons in 90 Days.. Check ✓

Window Cleaner Breaks World Record - 53rd marathon in 53 days

Revealed: The curious case of marathon man Mark Vaz: As the saga around Mark Vaz continues, and his running accomplishments come into question, the Express & Star looks back on his running history and how he ended up shrouded in controversy. It all began in April of last year, when he set out his plan to run 90 marathons in 90 days. He would be running for baby charity Tommy’s, spurred on by the heartbreak him and his wife had suffered after seven miscarriages.

In the process of his mammoth challenge, the Penkridge window cleaner would also smash the world record for consecutive marathons on consecutive days, which stood at 52. To continue on the 90 theme, Mr Vaz was also aiming to raise £90,000 for Tommy’s. He said he would continue with his window-cleaning round while undertaking the challenge and that he would begin the task on July 7.

Starting in Wolverhampton, his runs would take him through the likes of Walsall, Wheaton Aston, Rugeley, Rochester and Falmouth before finishing in Balloch in Scotland, the scene where he got married to his wife Tammy. He had the route mapped out so he would be able to hand the information over to Guinness and claim the new world record.

By August, Mr Vaz claimed to have run more than 800 miles and it was understood that he had broken the record of number of consecutive ultra marathons run on consecutive days – a record that he does not hold according to the Guinness World Book of Records. They say the record is held by American JC Santa Teresa.

Then it was reported that he had beaten the world record for consecutive marathons on consecutive days after he crossed the line at the Black Country museum to finish his 53rd marathon. Again the Express & Star can reveal that Mr Vaz does not hold this record. The Guinness World Book of Records have Akinori Kusuda from Japan down as the record holder with 52 consecutive marathons – not Mr Vaz.

As October rolled around, Mr Vaz finished his ‘90 in 90’ challenge in Chester – not Balloch – as he then proudly announced that he would be attempting a new challenge, 400 marathons in 365 days. Around the same time he also announced that he would be penning a book on his experiences – although no book is yet published.

Fast forward a week and Mr Vaz was again celebrating, this time as he crossed the line of his 100th marathon in just 97 days. He completed the challenge in Royal Parks, London.

He was due to take some time off from running after the challenges to rest up, but by November he told the Express & Star he had run his 130th marathon. He added that he had not quite worked out the logistics for his 400 in 365 challenge as he continued to run marathons locally.

But there was no slowing down for Mr Vaz, who said he reached the 170 mark in December and then the halfway point in January earlier this year. In the same month he also featured in a promotional video for Microsoft’s new fitness band, which has been viewed over 177,000 times on YouTube. The tech giant have now distanced themselves from Mr Vaz, saying: “Mark Vaz featured in promotional activity earlier this year. “Microsoft Band was not involved in his recent record [LEJOG] attempt. Beyond that, we have nothing else to share.”

In February Mr Vaz allegedly broke the record for the number of marathons run in a year when he completed his 240th, but again Guinness has a separate runner listed as the record holder.

Mr Vaz had previously said on numerous occasions he would be running from Lands End to John O’ Groats in an attempt to break the world record. He said he would complete the challenge in March, but had to pull out due to injury. It was around this time that his coach, Steve O’Brien, said he developed doubts as Mr Vaz would not discuss the injury or reveal any data that he requested, something Mr Vaz strongly denies.

He reattempted the challenge this month and claimed to finish it in world record time, but has now said he will not be submitting the information to Guinness to claim the world record as all he wanted was to raise money and awareness for charity.

Despite the damaging questions over Mr Vaz’s achievements, he must be given credit for the money he has raised for charity – something he has repeatedly said was the core reason for taking on these challenges.

At the time of writing he has raised over £2,000 for Make A Wish, the charity he picked for his LEJOG run. They say they are receiving the money in ‘drips and drabs’ as that is how money is released by Virgin Giving and they have no doubt that ‘the money will come’.

British Window Cleaners Reveal Their Weirdest Sightings

‘I saw a couple watching porn dressed as Grease characters’: The weirdest things window cleaners have witnessed on the job

British window cleaners reveal their weirdest sightings: Only a lucky few of us have never been caught doing something embarrassing in front of a window cleaner. Whether you're dancing in your pants or singing into a hairbrush while gazing adoringly at yourself in a mirror, it's hard not to cringe when you realise you've been spotted. If you think about it, window cleaners have a brilliant job. They get to see a snapshot of our lives, and most of us can be pretty weird.

A questionnaire by web-blinds.com asked more than 500 window cleaners to reveal the funniest and most bizarre things they've witnessed. So what exactly do they do when they spot someone in an uncompromising position? Well, 81 per cent of those questioned admitted they just carried on and pretended they hadn't seen anything weird. Ah, the good old British way of turning a blind eye.

A man cleaning the windows of a house in Cardiff was outside the bedroom window while a couple inside were watching an X-rated movie dressed as characters from the movie Grease. Whatever floats your boat!

One window cleaner looked through the windows of a conservatory to find the family's pet Labrador in labour and giving birth to her litter. As no one was at home, he had to call them, advising them to make a speedy return home.

Another, from Leicestershire, peeked into a living room and saw around 20 Christmas trees all set up - each fully decorated with tinsel, baubles and fair lights.

While cleaning a kitchen window in Yorkshire, one participant was shocked to see that the kitchen worktops and floor were covered in what he estimated to be around 200 unopened cereal boxes. Cereal's great and everything, but 200 boxes! Perhaps they were preparing for a zombie apocalypse?!

These were the most common sights seen by our nation's window cleaners

· Someone asleep in bed – (58%)

· Someone naked – (46%)

· Someone crying/distressed – (31%)

· Someone exercising/working out – (28%)

· Couples arguing – (24%)

· A couple having sex – (21%)

· Someone dancing/singing – (19%)

· Someone sat on the toilet – (16%)

· Someone showering/in the bath – (9%)

One user came across a very unsightly scene, admitting: “I caught a dude taking a dump in a sock.”

If we've learned one thing from this, it's to close our curtains! Nudity, sex and drug use: The most shocking things seen by window cleaners. They seem to turn up when you least expect it and these window cleaner have certainly witnessed some sights. It’s considered rude to stare into someone’s home but window cleaners are often left with no choice as they spend their day with their faces pressed up against windows.

And some cleaners have stumbled upon some truly shocking sights. In a hilarious thread on Reddit, window cleaners have revealed the most bizarre things they’ve ever witnessed. One user came across a very unsightly scene, admitting: “I caught a dude taking a dump in a sock.”

Another admitted that he had cleaned windows in high school and found himself washing the inside of the most popular girl in school’s house. But when he got to her room, he was shocked by what he saw. He wrote: “When I got to her room it was a freaking mess. I couldn't see the floor because it was covered with clothes and fast food bags.  “The weirdest part was seeing her underwear piled up on the window sill. I just used my tools to brush it all off. I don't know what the hell it was doing up there.”

Another user said he used to paint houses and revealed: “Things I have seen: Old lady naked (it was terrible), teenage sex, drug use, little teenage girls doing weird s*** in their room (singing in the mirror, talking to pictures of famous celebrities, stupid dance moves).”

One user said: “I cleaned windows for 6 months or so, mostly big houses. "One day I was cleaning the windows of the patio door and a girl (25 years or so) suddenly went into the adjacent kitchen fully naked and wet (guess she just took a shower). "She saw me, shrieked in terror and ran away at full speed.”

One user claimed whilst they’d never worked as a window cleaner, they’d been caught out by one. They wrote: “My window cleaner saw me naked. Window was open. He pushed it closed, I got a fright, farted and ran into the bathroom. “Hid in there absolutely mortified, of course the bathroom was the next window he cleaned. Obviously. Urgh. Still makes me feel nauseous when I think about it.”

Window Cleaners Four Thousand Feet In The Air

The specialist window cleaning contractors are masters at working at heights and in the most challenging circumstances.  It is estimated someone falling from the Skywalk would take more than 20 seconds to hit the Colorado River below.

Window cleaners become high wire artists to scrub the Grand Canyon viewing platform four thousand feet above the Colorado River: A specialist team of technicians clamber over the edge of the $30 million Grand Canyon Skywalk to spring clean it. The Canyon is more than three miles wide at that point and the Skywalk is 4,000 feet above the Colorado River. The specially-strengthened glass panes have recently been replaced for the first time since it opened in 2007. Workers spent two days at the end of April completing the highly-technical cleaning operation on the Skywalk. Click all pictures to enlarge.

The workers eventually make their way under the glass to enable them to clean the bottom of the incredibly difficult to reach panes. The specialist contractors are masters at working at heights and in the most challenging circumstances. Visitors to the Skywalk can look over towards the far side of the Grand Canyon which is more than three miles away at that point.

The workers used two different ropes to secure themselves to the Skywalk to provide an additional layer of safety while over the canyon. The specialist team of technicians cleaned the iconic Skywalk landmark which extends over Colorado River on the Grand Canyon.

Brave window cleaners dangle thousands of feet above the Grand Canyon - while giving its 'Skywalk' a spring clean. Technicians cleaned more than 40 panes of glass while taking in the awe-inspiring views of the Colorado River 4000ft below. The horseshoe-shaped structure, which cost $30M to build and juts out 70ft, was opened in March 2007 and offers visitors stomach-churning views.

Two men made their way under the iconic structure to clean the glass floor from underneath to give visitors a perfect view of the canyon. The glass on the iconic structure was recently replaced for the first time since the popular tourist venue was opened in 2007.

The $30 million structure juts out 70 feet over the Colorado River offering visitors an amazing view of the canyon floor 4,000 feet below. The technicians cleaned more than 40 panes of the specially strengthened glass as part of the they contract at the SkyWalk.

The Skywalk is cleaned by Abseilon USA, a Phoenix-based company who belong to the Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians. Abseilon's eight technicians - two of whom carried out the cleaning itself - operate a two-line system, which offers workers '200 per cent fall protection'. This system means despite the stomach-churning images and video that the technicians were able to capture, the process itself is extremely safe. Should an error occur in any part of a technician's rope system, they still have at least one additional system to fall back on.

The clean took place between April 27 and April 29 and as well as working on the glass, technicians also rappelled into the Canyon, collecting rubbish and items dropped by visitors. Ken Piposar, founder and CEO of Abseilon USA, said: 'The Skywalk actually just recently replaced the glass, so we came through to perform a spring cleaning. 'We're always a big hit at the Skywalk. 'People love to ask us questions, get their photo taken with us, and find out what we're doing. 'While we do get a lot of "you people are crazy" most visitors to the Skywalk think what we do is amazing. 'A lot of people also offer us their prayers, which we always find to be sweet.'

Also see:

SkyWalk Spring Clean + Fall In New Jersey

Grand Canyon Window Cleaners Sky Walk

Scaffold Malfunctions In New York & Philadelphia

The FDNY said the two workers are window washers and their scaffold experienced a mechanical malfunction. The scaffolding is on the 17th floor and was tilting down. Rescue workers lowered down ropes and the two workers were secured.

First Responders Rescue Window Washers From Stuck Rig in Lower Manhattan: Two window washers who were stuck inside a scaffold dangling 15 stories above Lower Manhattan were rescued Tuesday morning by firefighters including one who rappelled down to them.

There were no indications of any injuries. The workers were wearing harnesses and additional gear was lowered to them by firefighters responding to the scene. The scaffold was hanging about 15 stories above the ground for approximately 20 minutes when the workers were brought in through a window at 33 Maiden Lane and Nassau Street. 

Broken glass fell from 1818 Market Street around lunchtime on Monday after a snapped wire broke windows in the building.

Snapped cable shatters glass in Center City high rise, closes Market Street sidewalk: Two blocks of sidewalk along Market Street were closed to foot traffic around noon on Monday after a cable on a window washer's scaffold broke and shattered windows in a Center City high rise building.

Glass fell to the ground in Center City Philadelphia after a cable broke on a high-rise scaffolding. It happened around 11 a.m. Monday at the Beneficial Bank building at 19th and Market streets. Officials tell us a gust of wind caught a power cord locking device and flung it into a 12th floor window. The glass shattered, sending most of the debris into an unoccupied office area. But a chunk of that glass did fall onto the roadway below.

Firefighters and police quickly converged on the scene and closed off that stretch of Market Street until the locking device was secured and the shattered glass was removed from the roadway. Of course, this is not the first time we've reported on debris falling from buildings in Philadelphia. Back in 2014, a 25 foot column came crashing down from the side of a parking garage at 19th and JFK Boulevard. And in 2009, debris tumbled from a building at 16th and Chestnut. No one was injured in either case, and fortunately the same can be said regarding Monday's incident.

Glass Stronger Than Concrete

The glass bricks are held in place with a transparent high-strength glue.

Glass stronger than concrete: Architecture firm MVRDV has used a pioneering glass technology ‘stronger than concrete’ to replace the brick facade of a high-end retail outlet located in a former Amsterdam townhouse. Described by the Rotterdam studio as the first of its kind, the innovative facade of Crystal Houses Amsterdam uses glass bricks, windows frames and architraves to recreate the city’s traditional architectural style with a style befitting a Chanel boutique.

According to MVRDV, the construction is “in many ways, stronger than concrete”. MVRDV wanted to make a representation of the original buildings and found a solution through an extensive use of glass. Crystal Houses began its existence with the request of Warenar to design a flagship store combining both Dutch heritage and international architecture on the PC Hooftstraat, Amsterdam’s one and only luxury brand street that was previously primarily residential.

The near full-glass façade mimics the original design, down to the layering of the bricks and the details of the window frames, but is stretched vertically to comply with updated zoning laws and to allow for an increase in interior space. Glass bricks stretch up the façade of Crystal Houses, eventually dissolving into a traditional terracotta brick façade for the apartments (as stipulated in the City’s aesthetics rules), which appears to be floating above the shop floor.

The design hopes to provide a solution to the loss of local character in shopping areas around the world. The increased globalisation of retail has led to the homogenisation of high-end shopping streets. Crystal Houses offer the store a window surface that contemporary stores need, whilst maintaining architectural character and individuality, resulting in a flagship store that hopes to stand out amongst the rest.

“We said to the client, ‘Let’s bring back what will be demolished but develop it further’” explains Winy Maas, architect and co-founder of MVRDV. “Crystal Houses make space for a remarkable flagship store, respect the structure of the surroundings and bring a poetic innovation in glass construction. It enables global brands to combine the overwhelming desire of transparency with a couleur locale and modernity with heritage. It can thus be applied everywhere in our historic centres.”

After conceiving the initial idea MVRDV worked closely with a number of partners to develop the technologies to make it possible. Solid glass bricks were individually cast and crafted by Poesia in Resana, near Venice. Research undertaken by the Delft University of Technology, in partnership with engineering firm ABT and contractor Wessels Zeist, led to the development of structural solutions and fabrication techniques, with the use of a high-strength, UV bonded, transparent adhesive from Delo Industrial Adhesives in Germany to cement the bricks together without the need for a more traditional mortar.

Six to ten experts worked every day for a whole year in a place that bore more resemblance to a laboratory than a construction site. Due to the sensitivity of the materials, an extremely high level of accuracy and craftsmanship was required and a technical development team was onsite throughout the process. Since this construction is the first of its kind, new construction methods and tools had to be utilised: from high-tech lasers and laboratory grade UV-lamps, to slightly lower-tech Dutch full-fat milk, which, with its low transparency, proved to be an ideal liquid to function as a reflective surface for the levelling of the first layer of bricks. Despite its delicate looks, strength tests by the Delft University of Technology team proved that the glass-construction was in many ways stronger than concrete. The full-glass architrave, for instance, could withstand a force of up to 42.000 Newton; the equivalent to two full-sized SUVs.

The development of new construction methods unearthed additional possibilities for future building, such as the minimisation of waste materials. In essence, all of the glass components are completely recyclable. Waste materials from the project, such as imperfect bricks, could simply be (and were) melted down and re-moulded or entirely repurposed. Such is also true for the entire façade itself, once the building has reached the end of its life span, the whole facade can be melted down and given a new life. The only exceptions to this rule are added features which ensure the security of the building, such as a concrete ram-raid defence plinth, hidden in a blend of reflective and translucent materials and built to withstand the force of a car crashing into the building. Repair-protocols were developed in the event of any damage, allowing for the replacement of individual bricks.

With a façade made primarily out of glass it was important to ensure that energy requirements were supplied through renewable sources. Therefore, the building was designed around a ground source heat pump, its pipes leading up to 170 metres underground, allowing for an optimal indoor climate throughout the year. A crucial element when dealing with delicate, sophisticated detailing while striving for a proper energy balance at the same time.

Sign Of The Times

Waterfed pole user Rob said: “I’m a window cleaner with my own company and I was driving around seeing all these dirty signs."

Cleaning up his community - one road sign at a time: The owner of a cleaning company has taken caring for his community to new levels after getting fed up with seeing dirty road signs every day. Rob Panther, 39, from Peatmoor, found himself getting more and more frustrated as he passed the signs, covered in moss and other muck, on his way to jobs. A few months ago, he decided enough was enough – he stopped his van, took out his cleaning gear and got to work brightening them up himself.

Rob said: “I’m a window cleaner with my own company and I was driving around seeing all these dirty signs. “I’d see the same ones every day and I just couldn’t look at them any longer, they make everything look so grotty. “I got fed up of waiting, fed up of seeing it all the time so I decided to do something about it.”

Married father of two Rob, who owns R Panther Cleaning Services, has now cleaned around 35 signs across the town in the last few months. “I drive all over for work, so I just do them when I am out and about - some of the signs in the rural areas are particularly bad. “I think I’ll definitely carry on doing it, it has become a bit of a covert op. “I’m careful about where I do it, I’m not going to stop the van on the A419 for example.”

Sign of the times: Some people jokingly asked whether Rob had completed the correct health and safety forms before cleaning the signs. Click to enlarge.

Rob’s friends and family thought it was a little bit of an unusual thing to do at first but they are right behind him now, joking that he should come and clean the signs near them too. The public response has been similarly positive, a Facebook post showing a few of the signs he has cleaned has been liked almost 200 times including by none other than the leader of Swindon Borough Council, David Renard.

Priory Vale councillor, Emma Faramarzi, commented: “Fantastic. Look at the community spirit we've got in North Swindon. “I think you are a star.” Other users have also thanked Rob for his efforts, Alison Andrews said: “What a great citizen you are, well done.” Tim Keen added: “Love the community spirit. Also good to see the signs are now as clean as my windows - quality job as ever!”

Some people jokingly asked whether Rob had completed the correct health and safety forms before cleaning the signs, or suggested that perhaps he should get a reduction on his council tax for his good deeds. Rob said: “I was a bit worried that I might get in some kind of trouble for it at first, but I was reassured to see how people reacted, especially the local councillors. “I just like the area to be clean but it’s lovely that people in the community are appreciating what I’m doing.”