A FORMER milkman who has enjoyed painting for six decades has hung up his paintbrush at the age of 90.

Frank Dykes, who grew up on Chorley Street, took up painting more than 60 years ago.

Sadly, the 90-year-old great-granddad was forced to give up his long-held passion for art shortly before Christmas due to ill-health.

Warrington Guardian:

An ex-cooper at the Tetley Walker brewery, Frank was also a milkman for the Co-op - enjoying his rounds in the Woolston area in the 1970s, before he moved away to north Wales.

Son Wayne said: “Dad has painted a lot of pictures in that time.

“He was painting up until a couple of months ago, but he’s had to stop due to his health.

“Dad used to absolutely love painting - he would be seen painting wherever he went.”

Frank first met his wife Lilian in the Barley Mow pub in the town centre in the 1950s, with the couple later buying a house on Bewsey Street after getting married.

Warrington Guardian:

Frank and wife Lilian on their wedding day

He also bred greyhounds and saw a number of them become champions when racing them at Belle Vue - building a kennels in Burtonwood, which at one stage house 100 dogs and a small race track.

In 1977, Frank and Lilian moved to Colwyn Bay and opened up a shop in Prestatyn.

Frank, who has four children as well as a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, still has relatives in the town and will turn 91 later this year - having also still been driving until the past few months.

He was self-taught as an artist, and was also friends with 'secret artist' Eric Tucker.

Warrington Guardian: