She's pressed the flesh of professional footballers and one of the world's most famous dancers – but a Norfolk masseuse is now hitting the road a little closer to home with her unusual portable parlour.

Former Norwich City massage therapist Jo Saunders has converted an ambulance to help her bring soft tissue treatment to clients at their homes, at events and even at work.

Miss Saunders, 43, worked at Norwich City for five seasons, experiencing two relegations and two promotions before joining Lord of the Dance with Michael Flatley on tour across the world.

Now back at her home in Holme Hale, Miss Saunders decided she wanted to try something different.

'Michael Flatley retired in 2015 and I decided to hang up my suitcase,' she said. 'I came back and started building up the business, going to events, and I thought I needed a studio I could bring with me – especially as I live in a rural area.'

Miss Saunders' boyfriend Stuart Wright suggested she buy the ambulance after spotting it online and then helped her to convert it over the past four months.

The project involved Ethel – as the ambulance has been named – being taken to a workshop in Warrington where she was sprayed metallic silver and the fluorescent stickers were removed.

When she picked the vehicle up,

Miss Saunders had to sign a form saying she would not put the siren on when picking up the vehicle, which she joked had been a huge temptation.

While she has been qualified for sports and remedial massage therapy since 2001, and has been seeing clients at her parents' home in Ashill for many years, the ambulance means she can see clients further afield.

As well as visiting clients at their own home, Miss Saunders is hoping to visit companies and offer massages to staff.

She said: 'I have always done massage on my own but when I was with Norwich City or Lord of the Dance it had to fit in around when I was at home. Now I am able to turn up anywhere and be ready to go. The ambulance has given me flexibility to massage anywhere without the worry of finding a suitable space. Hiring a room or space in a city can be really expensive so the unit enables me to keep the cost of my massage at a reasonable price. All I need is somewhere to park up.'