Talk about being in the right place at the right time. Painter Darren Everest (circled) and his four fellow music-loving decorators were singing during a tea break while working in Oxford Street, London, when they were spotted by a talent scout from Warner Music.

They have since been offered a five-album deal with the record company, whose artists include Madonna. The old-school vocal group, called The Overtones, formed painting and decorating company Classical Interiors UK Ltd so that they could earn money and rehearse at the same time.

Mr Everest, 29, the falsetto vocalist of the group, tells People: "We handed the scout one of our painting and decorating cards. We never dreamed that would be the way we would get spotted by a label.

"It's just been crazy. You get so many doors shut in your face that you do start to doubt things but we knew we had something. Obviously, this is what we want to do. It's great to be doing what you love every day." Their debut album, Good Ol Fashioned Love is due for release on October 18. It has reached number two on Amazon's pre-sale album chart. Their first single, Gambling Man, written by them, is out on October 11.

The Overtones, comprise Manchester's Mark Franks, 33; Lachie Chapman, 29, from Sydney; Mike Crawshaw, 30, from Bristol, and Timmy Matley, 28, from County Cork. They cover music from the 50s and 60s. They have been dubbed "the Take That of Doo-Wop" but very much see themselves as an "old-school vocal group" rather than a boy band.