Meet the man who has one of Britain's most unusual job combinations – piano tuner to the stars and fearless firefighter.

Robert Porch is a professional piano tuner who is regularly being called on for top musicians such as Elton John, Matt Bellamy of rockers Muse, Shirley Bassey and Chris de Burgh.

But uniquely, he is also a retained firefighter attending an average four call-outs a week in his home town of Dawlish. He joined the service in 1993.

The 47-year-old father of three first trained as a harpsichord-maker aged 15 but started tuning pianos to make extra money.

Thirty-two years later, he has become of one of Britain's best and is contracted by piano-makers Steinway to tune their instruments in the South West.

Richard puts the bizarre combination down to a need to do something for the community.

"Piano tuning can be an isolated job, working on your own a lot of the time," he said. "Whereas firefighting is much more of a team effort – and has more of a community role.

"I've never heard of anyone else with the same combination of jobs in Britain. But, surprisingly, there is someone in Seattle, Washington, who is also a piano tuner and fireman.

"I got talking to him at a conference once and we were both stunned to find out – we both thought we were unique."

Richard's dual roles mean that he has very understanding clients.

"I have been called out during piano tuning sessions, yes," he said.

"Being on call it can happen anytime. People are generally very understanding.

"I've also been to two fires in my time where pianos have been burning. While it was pleasant to see, nobody was actually hurt. That's the most important thing."