OVEN valeting is a business that is hot, hot, hot for Richard Wilks of Skelton, York, who has decided to extend his three-year Ovenu franchise licence from Friday.

Richard, 50, set up his Ovenu franchise in February 2003 after shock-absorber factory Tenneco shut down its York division. He was one of 20 people in the sales and engineering department of Tenneco at Northminster Business Park in Poppleton who lost their jobs.

Since then he has cleaned more than 1,600 ovens in the York and North Yorkshire for about 1,400 customers, including house letting agencies.

The price of the three hour cleaning process is negotiable, based on the sophistication of the oven, but averages at about £52.

Key components, including the oven door, interior panels, shelves and fan, are all dismantled and cleaned with non-caustic products. The equipment is then reassembled, with the oven, hob and exterior all left in immaculate condition. Richard said: "The uptake of the service has been building steadily throughout the past few years and now more than 60 per cent of my business comes from repeat customers and their recommendations to family and friends." For more information, phone Richard on 01904 471517.

Updated: 11:17 Wednesday, February 01, 2006