Penny 'Short Fuse' Wilkins, 31, a civil servant from Leicester, irons a shirt during the water section of the Extreme Ironing World Championships being held near Munich in Germany. Penny is one of several UK competitors, sponsored by Rowenta, in what is the first world championships to be held in the sport. Team-mate Phil 'Steam' Shaw invented the sport in 1997 when he decided to combine the mundane chore of ironing with his love of rock-climbing. The championships consist of five disciplines including forest, urban, free-style and rocky with around ten countries taking part.

• Contributor: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo
• Image ID: 2D32MFK
• File size: 4.5 MB (165.1 KB Compressed download)
• Releases: Model - no | Property - no
• Dimensions: 1578 x 991 px | 26.7 x 16.8 cm | 10.5 x 6.6 inches | 150dpi
• Date taken: 21 September 2002
• Photographer: Johnny Green

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