TWO gas men, two mechanics, a window fitter and a machine operator are Bolton's answer to Sheffield's the Full Monty. The six very differently shaped lads - highly toned hunks, they are not - got together for a laugh after seeing the smash hit film. But their 'laugh' has now turned into a business, with bookings starting to flood in from Blackpool and Bolton.

The Full Monty are Paul Sykes the mechanic, along with his brothers, Jeff Sykes, also a mechanic, and Nigel Sykes, a window fitter. They are joined by gas men Rick Seddon and Rick Hodgkiss, and machine operator, Chris Fishwick.

And their act, based on the hit film, has been going down a storm with the ladies.

"They really seem to like us," says Paul, who is clearly perplexed by their popularity.

He added: "At the moment there are several groups going around doing the Full Monty. But taking one look at us, I'd say we're nearest to the film version. These other guys look in good shape."

Prior to becoming strippers, the boys had put together an act based on the Village People.

"It's funny," says Paul. "But Chris Fishwick was always a bit shy about doing the Village People and in the end he left. But he took to the idea of taking his clothes off like a duck to water."

So do they actually do the 'FULL MONTY'?

"Well, half of the lads have no objections and half aren't so sure. At the moment we go down to the G-String. But you can never tell. It depends on our mood on the night."

You can catch the boys in all their glory at the Ritzy nightclub in Bolton on Friday, April 3.

And you never know, it might be the night when the mood is right, and they really do go the Full Monty.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.