"Are you a young woman who can cook and clean and is reasonably nice to look at?"

This is the start of the email a certain Paul Eley in Guernsey sent out to his work colleagues, that ended up being circulated around the island of Guernsey, and then various parts of the world, partly because his fellow staff members were so shocked they began to forward it to friends, who then forwarded it on to other companies etc.

The mail went on to state that he was looking for a rent-free flatmate, but there were certain conditions attached:

She had to be between 18 and 26 years old and 'preferably' someone who was tidy and reasonably nice to look at.

Mr Eley added that instead of paying rent, he would expect his tenant to:

1) Clean the whole apartment once a week.

2) Clean the kitchen every day and keep it tidy.

3) Do some of his washing and ironing.

4) Occasionally cook for him on a weekday if he was working late, 'nothing difficult, something like sausages and mash' he said.

The arrangement would not be permanent, as if he got a serious girlfriend his female lodger would have to leave at one month's notice.

'If you know of anyone who would be interested let me know and I will meet them to see if I can get on with her" he said.

What he wasn't aware of was that by now this email was being forwarded around the Island of Guernsey by incredulous colleagues, the finance worker then sent them a second email saying there were additional points he had forgotten to mention. These included:

He would agree to cook for his flatmate sometimes, taking her out to restaurants, allowing them to use his Internet connection and letting her choose what they watched on television- but only sometimes.

His final point was 'She can have other friends round as long as they are women'.

Since this email has come to light Mr Eley is now claiming it was not serious and 'it was only meant as a joke'.

However, one of his colleagues forwarded the emails on to a friend claiming, 'He is deadly serious as well', and the messages have been sent on to hundreds of islanders during the last few days.

The company he works for called "Concept Group", have declined to comment so far.

Since the email has circulated, a group on Facebook has been set up called 'Paul Eley, Don't Ever Change' with members discussing the emails. At the last count the group already had 475 members.

Rumour now has it that this incident is soon going to be featured in the National Papers.

What hasn't been quoted, and I cannot either for various reasons, are some of the intimate offers he received back from females who were clearly joking around with him, although he took the offers seriously, and these too have been forwarded around, along with his replies!!!! I can't say more for obvious legal reasons, but use your imaginations and I am sure you can work it out. Further details may even be available on the Facebook Site by now.