Ironing courses for men

One-day courses have been set up across Austria to teach men how to iron. The country-wide courses are being advertised with the words: "A real man knows how to iron".

Brigitte Kanatschnig, who is holding one of the courses in Wels in Upper Austria, said there are three types of men who have enrolled. They are confirmed bachelors, those who want to impress their wives and girlfriends, and those who have just split up from their partner.

She said: "I try to make the classes as fun as possible to show them that ironing isn't just a chore. Once they have got the hang of a shirt, I start timing them and they love trying to beat the buzzer." As an extra incentive trainee ironers will be treated to a wine-tasting session at the end of the day.