The shop, first opened by George Wignall in 1935, was taken over by son Gerald in the late 1940s. It flourished under his management until 1988.

Today Gerald's family paid moving tribute to him after he lost his long battle against illness earlier this month, aged 77. Gerald, also known as Gerry, became one of the town's most recognisable faces after taking over the newsagents in Leyland Road.

Son Paul Wignall, 54, said: "He was a warm-hearted, generous man who was fully of fun, witty and always polite.

"He loved people and people would warm to him, and he was wonderful with the customers. He had an old-fashioned, marvellous attitude towards customer service. He adored his wife and his family and his family loved him."

Gerry met wife Mary, 77, in the 1940s. They married in 1952 at St Mary's Parish Church, Penwortham.

After he sold the business in 1988, the couple moved from Leyland Road to a new home in Penwortham, where Mrs Wignall still lives today.

Paul added: "There was a massive amount of affection towards him and the business. He loved pottering round the garden, spending time with his wife and his family and relaxing at home."

Gerry leaves a wife, three sons – Paul, 54, Mark, 49 and David, 45 – and five grandchildren. His funeral is at St Mary's Parish Church, Penwortham, on Friday, June 8.