Folding shoe man plans US launch

Rollasoles gained celebrity interest after Perez Hiltonchampioned them

An entrepreneur who used his redundancy money to start a business selling foldable shoes from a vending machine is to launch in America.

Matt Horan's £5 Rollasole is an emergency flat shoe women can change into from their stiletto heels for the walk home after a night out.

The pumps are already on sale in Ibiza superclubs Eden and Space.

Now Mr Horan, 27, from South Gloucestershire, is taking his product to clubs in Los Angeles and New York.

He came up with the Rollasoles idea after being inspired by a stiletto-loving girlfriend who complained about her crippled feet every time they went out.

Celebrity following

"After getting tired of giving my girlfriend a piggyback home every Saturday night, I had a 'eureka' moment," he said.

"Within six months we were selling thousands of them."

Rollasole has also attracted a celebrity following after Perez Hilton, the American gossip blogger, championed the shoes on his website.

Danielle Bux and Gary Lineker will have personalised Rollasoles for guests at their wedding later this year.

Mr Horan has now sold 60,000 pairs since launching the company in May 2008 and on Thursday his success will be featured on NBC News in America.

"In the early days I didn't have much of a budget so I had to travel round the country filling up the machines and promoting the shoes myself," said Mr Horan.

"We have expanded 600% in the last three months."

The Rollasole brand will be making an appearance at Glastonbury Festival in Somerset which begins on 26 June.