Ronald Stevenson said he had been inundated with positive comments since posting the link – but was now struggling to find work. Mr Stevenson, of Dunval Road, Bridgnorth, said he found internet fame when he was asked by chance to make a video while working in London.

The 48-year-old said: “It’s already had more than 480,000 hits and it keeps going up every day. I’ve had lots of positive comments about it.

“I was working in London at the time and an independent film maker asked me if I would post a video explaining how plastering works online.

“He talked me through what he wanted and before I knew it I had thousands of hits.

“I wasn’t the only person to post a video but others have only had 1,000 to 2,000 hits, whereas mine seems to keep doing well.

“I got a lot of work through it at the beginning but now I’m actually looking for work.

“I’m really happy to see people giving it a go and I’ve had good comments from all over the world.

“If they mess it up then there’s always the fact they have to call plasterer to fix it anyway.”

Mr West, a former pupil of Oldbury Wells School, said the success of the YouTube video led to him conducting seminars in India on plastering.

He said: “That was a great experience but also slightly strange because at one point I’m working on buildings for the council and the next I’m in India.

“I was invited to speak at a lot of venues and got paid for it, but unfortunately the work has dried up.”

He added: “The video was the talk of the building trade in Britain at one point but now I am struggling to find work.”