Anyone thinking England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson lives in Ormesby, could be forgiven.

For 47-year-old Teessider David Newton reckons he's a dead ringer for the Swedish footballing boss.

The startling similarity frequently prompts double takes, stares and awkwardly posed questions from curious onlookers.

"Looking like this is an advantage when England are winning because everyone's really nice to me," said David.

The first to spot the striking resemblance and point it out was the two-year-old daughter of his girlfriend Stephanie Hesleton.

"Sapphire and Stephanie were at home and Sven came on the TV, this was about the time they thought he might become England manager," said David.

"And Stephanie's daughter just pointed at the TV and said 'There's David'."

"Before I saw what he looked like I found it a bit surprising that people would compare me with anyone, but then I opened a paper, saw him and thought crikey."

After a while David tired of the comparisons and cut his hair short.

But people told him he looked like the Swede after a haircut.

So he grew it back, took some pictures and posted them to an agent, offering his unusual 'ability'.

Now his agent is starting to line-up his first 'appearances'.

"I just decided that if I could make some money out of this, why not?" he said.

"After all people are saying things to me every day, so why shouldn't I let people do it and get paid for doing it?"

Girlfriend Stephanie, of North Bank Crescent, Ormesby Bank, said: "He loves all the attention he gets from this but I take it with a pinch of salt.

"We were out the other day and got separated in a queue and I could hear all the people talking about him and asking each other if it was him. It makes me laugh.

"It is a bit embarrassing when he gets sung at by football fans though!"