PETER Corby, the man who invented the trouser press, has died at the age of 97.

       The Corby Trouser Press was launched in the 1960s and was described as "a man's best friend" in adverts.

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       Peter Corby, the man who invented the trouser press, has died

       Inventor Corby patented the revolutionary design, which included an electrical heating pad and went on to sell millions.

       He became a household name and in 1977, after selling millions of presses, he sold his business to Jourdan plc, which is now owned by Huddersfield firm Fired Up Corporation.

       Today, tributes poured in for the designer on Twitter, with one person writing: "RIP Peter Corby. His trouser presses were like an old friend".

       He has been described as a "remarkable businessman" who "managed to keep selling a product (mainly to hotels) despite the fact that most guests never used it".

       Someone else declared his product a "fantastic British invention".

       Born in Leamington Spa in July 1924, Mr Corby joined the Royal Air Froce's Volunteer Reserve in September 1943 and was mobilised in February 1944, according to the Telegraph.

       After training as a flight engineer, he flew in the Halifax bomber as part of 78 Squadron in the final weeks of the war in Europe.

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       He went on to join his dad's family business after the war and a chance meeting with the Concorde aeronautical engineer would inspire his next move.

       He learnt how the engineer had managed to prevent the plane's nose cone from freezing - inspiring him to come up with the electrical heating pad which transformed the effectiveness of the trouser press.

       After revolutionising the product, Corby began a leasing arrangement with hotels in the early 1970s.

       The trouser press soon became a fixture in hotel rooms across the globe.

       Corby is survived by his second wife Gail Clifford-Marshall and their son, as well as two children from his first marriage.

       Peter Corby, born July 8 1924, died August 5 2021.

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       Adverts described the trouser press as a man's best friend 5

       The design was considered revolutionary 5

       Mr Corby joined the Royal Air Froce's Volunteer Reserve in September 1943 and was mobilised in February 1944 5

       His trouser press went on to sell millions and became a popular feature in hotels Credit: Alamy