Â鶹Éç

For 30 years Paul McLaughlin was a Nottinghamshire police officer. Many of those were spent as an advanced driver so when he retired from the force he wanted to keep his motoring hand in.

He got the job as a Council House chauffeur, one of two who drive the Lord Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Sheriff of Nottingham to engagements around the county.

Their vehicles are easily recognisable, bearing the number plates NTV1 and NTV2.

"It's quite a privilege to be in such a luxury vehicle," says Paul.

Wash and go

Image is all important to Paul. Every day the first thing he does is spend an hour and a half washing, shampooing and valeting the official vehicles.

Even a drying spot of rain bothers him.

"If I drive the Lord Mayor or the Sheriff in a car which is dirty, with patches of mud by the wheel arches, their [the Lord Mayor and Sheriff's] instant reaction, I'm sure, would be 'what a dirty car.' That's my opinion and that is why I don't allow it."

Paul McLaughlin and his pride and joy

Topless hunk

Although he denies having a fan club, Paul actually washes the cars topless, wearing just a pair of shorts. He does have an explanation, claiming heating pipes run around the garage behind the Guildhall causing the temperature to rise to around 80°F.

Although he's careful, there have been an embarrassing moments for Paul and his shorts.

"I keep the doors firmly closed but there was one occasion when I had to go outside and I got a couple of strange looks. They thought it was a stripper coming out of the garage."

No respect

Not everyone shares Paul's pride for the Lord Mayor's limousine. The chauffeur says people have spat at the Jaguar car and once, two people ran over the top of it.

All of which disappoints the former police officer.

"It's a centrepiece. I want to make an impression. It's representative of the city of Nottingham and therefore it's important it looks good."