Scott Hebson, from Cheeky Monkeez, with his son James

It’s a tough job that most men would shy away from but one Oswestry man stepped up to the challenge to get the vocation of his dreams.

Yet despite securing the qualification to become a registered childminder 35-year-old Scott Hebson says he is finding it hard to get clients in his new job. “It is a struggle being a childminder in Oswestry as it is very quiet anyway but on top of that is hard because I am a bloke,” he said.

“I wanted a new career. My wife went back to work and I have been training to become a child minder. I was registered last month.

“I am being victimised because I am a man. It is wrong.”

• Have you ever thought about employing a man to look after your children? Contact our newsroom to tell us your story by e-mailing newsroom@shropshirestar.co.uk or telephone (01952) 242424.

Mr Hebson has two young children of his own aged ten and two years-old.

He used to work in security and sales for 15 years before deciding to qualify in childcare.

He said male childminders were rare in Shropshire and he has only heard of three others in Ruyton-XI-Towns and Shrewsbury.

Since qualifying Mr Hebson has been advertising his business on the internet, created posters and business cards. He said he’s received a number of inquiries from interested people – but they never follow up their interest.

“I really like child-minding,” he said. “I like the rewards of child-minding – the rewards of teaching them new things and educating them.

“It’s amazing when there is someone who doesn’t speak and then can weeks later.”

Mr Hebson has trained and qualified for the vocation, and is now continuing his training to get even more qualifications.

And he is hoping that somebody may come forward to offer a job in his chosen field.

“Sometimes it gets me down but also financially I need to find work soon,” he said.

A spokeswoman for National Childminding Association said nationally only two per cent of childminders are male.

“Unfortunately child care is a low-paid job so if they can develop a career that earns more money they do that,” she said. “Some men may find it difficult as it is classed as a female role and they may be bullied. It shouldn’t be like that.”

Mr Hebson urged anybody interested in having him as their childminder to call 07885761744 or email cheeky.monkeez@yahoo.com

By Chrissy Symmons