Under-cover surveillance operations, covert filming and tailing cars – it all sounds like something from the movies.

But it’s all part of a day’s work for private investigator Richard Musoni, who recently set up his own firm in Heston to discreetly monitor and gather evidence for his growing number of clients.

Mr Musoni, 38, of Hounslow Road, Feltham, employs two other agents covering a large area of west London, including Hounslow and Richmond.

He said about 80 per cent of his customers were suspicious lovers who believed their partners were cheating.

He said: “We get a whole range of clients – straight people, lesbians, gays, all different categories of society.

“Sometimes you get clients who have sort of an idea of what has been going on, and what some of the clients actually need is that independent evidence just to confirm their suspicions.

“At the end of the investigation we give them still photos, moving images like a video or DVD and a written report.”

Other under-cover jobs include posing as an employee within a business to gather inside information, as well as working for local councils and solicitors.

Mr Musoni’s methods include staking out people’s houses and then following once they are on the move, using tactics to avoid detection.

Two investigators are used to carry out “moving surveillance”, switching cars so a target will not recognise the following vehicle.

However, not all investigations into suspected love rats end in tears, with some proving that a partner had been innocent all along.

Mr Musoni said: “We just had a case where a client suspected the boyfriend had been having an affair, but actually at the end of the investigation it was proved the guy was just having good fun with his mates.”

For more information, visit richardsprivateinvestigators.co.uk