Ironing may soon be history as a machine that will dry and iron your clothes has been designed by Spanish manufacturers.

The “Driron”, made by the Basque manufacturer Fagor looks like a 6ft (1.8m) fridge-freezer. The clothes are slotted in sideways on hangers like a wardrobe. Shirts and T-shirts are weighed down with what looks like a giant hairclip.

After whirring away for two hours, the clothes are dry and remarkably wrinkle-free.

The company will sell the white version of its machine for €1,600 (£1,070) and a trendy brushed steel version will cost €1,800.

“We think there are a lot of double-income families out there with little time to spare,” said José Gaytán de Ayala, the managing director of the company, was quoted by Timesonline, as saying.

“Also, we think this will be attractive to young people, many of whom have done little or no ironing in their lives,” he added.