A DAD deflated by his career as a teacher is pumped up about his new job - as a balloon artist.

Alex Ireland quit his job teaching languages to become a full time dad.

But his life took an unexpected twist at a family party when he saw a balloon artist in action.

Now Alex, from Bollington, is bursting with enthusiasm for his own ballooning business - Bollington Balloons - and his popularity is blowing up.

Alex, 35, said: “I’m living the dream at the moment.

“I get to spend quality time with my kids when they are young and at the weekends I get to have a lot of fun with balloons.”

Alex is originally from the Wirral and moved to the area seven years ago after meeting his wife Nicola, who is also a teacher.

He taught Spanish and French at Tytherington High but quit in December 2012.

Alex explained: “After 10 years in teaching I was quite disillusioned and wanted to spend more time with the kids.

Harriet was only six months old and Toby was two, and I loved the idea of being a stay-at-home dad, as well as saving us the child care costs.

So we went for it.”

Alex was introduced to ballooning at a family party.

He said: “After watching the balloon artist I decided to give it a go.

“I poured over video tutorials and spent a lot of time practicing.”

However, Alex’s first efforts didn’t impress everyone.

He said: “I didn’t realise how hard it was going to be or how tough it was to actually blow the balloons up.

“My first effort was a sword but that deflated within minutes.

“The kids loved it but Nicola would get bored watching me taking hours over one design.”

The practice paid off and now Alex can pull off impressive and elaborate designs including bugs, birds, princesses and even a biplane.

His creations even won him second place in an international balloon competition.

He is now taking bookings for parties, mostly children’s but also a few adults. For more information go to bollingtonballoons.webs.com.