Your initial investment is £13,100 plus VAT and it is possible to borrow up to 70% of this initial investment through the major high street banks that have endorsed the Wilkins Chimney Sweep model.

The tradition of Chimney Sweeps kissing the bride and shaking the groom's hand for good luck started about 200 years ago after a London chimney sweep saved the life of King George III.

However, on average, a thorough cleaning should take about 45 minutes to an hour. This time can increase substantially if there is creosote present in your flue, if the flue is damaged in any way, or if there are blockages such as birds' nests.

This means there's no risk of any dust or soot making its way into the room, but you should also expect clean sheets to be placed over any soft furnishings which can't be moved. The vacuums used by chimney sweep teams are designed specifically for the fine dust particles which usually escape during a sweep.