Buyers get a share in 50% of all the profits that Honey Ryder makes from royalties, tours etc. The rest of the money goes to Martyn and Lyndsay and their producer.

Martyn said: “I always knew that one day I would make a living as a musician.

“When I worked in banks I was a bit of a Clarke Kent character, dressing in a suit in the daytime and talking about monopolies and mergers. But by night I would sneak off from the office and head out to practice at music rehearsals

“My parents, who still live in Caldy, and other members of my family were a little bit dubious when I said I wanted to leave the bank to make a go of Honey Ryder, but now they are fully supportive, as is my girlfriend.

“I never saw the credit crunch coming, no one did. But looking back now I can say that I definitely made the right move.

“Seventy five of the 100 shares we have issued have been sold, including to Eric Nicoli, the former CEO of EMI, so that shows people have confidence in us.”

“I am glad I left the world of banking because it wasn’t really what I wanted, but I do feel for all those people who will lose their jobs because of the credit crunch.”

Martyn describes Honey Ryder’s music as a cross between Fleetwood Mac, Sheryl Crow, Dido and Evanescence.The group’s first single, Numb, was released in July and reached number 32 in the charts. Their new single called Fly Away, is out on November 10. This will be followed one week later by their first album, Rising Up.