GROWN-UP boy bands have become the next best thing ever since Take That reformed.

Hoping to take advantage of the popularity is Matt Milchard, a model-turned-musician from Canterbury.

He is one third of The Alley Cat Dogs, signed by Lemon Records, and he and his fellow man band members Alex J and Kadean Mayers have just released their debut single, How Freaky.

It follows the success of the band’s spoof version of the Pussycat Dolls’ single Dontcha, which although not released made it to number seven in the dance charts.

"From that we realised there was something there and we have turned from spoof to serious. But we are not a typical boy band," said 30-year-old Matt.

How Freaky is the first single on the band’s album, Unleashed, which they plan to release early next year.

Matt is now based in London but is often down in Canterbury visiting his parents Carole and Michael at the family home in Westbere.

"We have got great hopes for the single. Our ultimate dream is a Christmas number one," he said.