A South Essex man has gone from working as a carpet fitter to being an international model...aged 50.

Rob Knighton is set to give up the day job and swap laying carpets for walking on red carpets.

Mr Knighton, a fitter for 30 years, got his big break when he was working at the home of a model scout who took a shine to him. He has now been signed to Next Model Management, one of the top agencies in the world.

His career has certainly taken off – he has already catwalk modelled for Ozwald Boateng and appeared in a fashion shoot for men’s magazine Arena Homme.

He also flew first class to Johannesburg before Christmas to shoot a TV ad campaign for a “massive British brand”.

Mr Knighton, who lived in Southend for 15 years until recently moving to Shoreditch, East London, has a 27-year-old son who still lives in Southend.

He said: “I never imagined I would have another career at the age of 50, but it just goes to show nothing is ever impossible. My son thinks it’s great, and I love all the travel. It’s a big change from fitting carpets all day.”

Katy Moseley, of Next Model Management, said: “Starting out at 50 and doing such high-profile work is unusual, and Rob has been loving it.

“He has more glossy magazine shoots coming up, so although he has been doing a little bit of carpet fitting, that might end soon.”