FRED Dibnah has been stitched up - to raise money in his memory.

The famous Bolton steeplejack who died last November has been honoured by one of his biggest fans.

Wendy Close, aged 53, has produced a cross-stitch picture of a steam roller, which will be given as first prize in a raffle.

Miss Close spent two weeks in March stitching the picture, and has already raised more than £200 selling raffle tickets.

She has even been wearing a flat cap like Fred's when selling the tickets.

She said: "Everyone loved Fred, and they really want to buy the tickets. It's been fantastic."

There will be three other Fred Dibnah-related prizes at the raffle, and all the money raised will go to the Fred Dibnah Memorial Fund.

The other raffle prizes are a video about Bolton produced by Bolton Hospice, where Fred died, a book about Fred's life, and some cans of Guinness, Fred's favourite tipple.

Miss Close has been a huge fan of Fred's for years and followed his career closely.

She has a number of books signed by him, and met him once at a steam roller fair. "I thought he was such a gentleman and so interesting," she said.

Miss Close, of Thorns Road, Astley Bridge, who is a care assistant learned how to cross-stitch more than 20 years ago, and has been doing it ever since.

Whenever one of her friends or family has a birthday, she creates a design for them, and gives them the cross-stitch as a present.

Miss Close shares Fred's interest in steam rollers and tractors, and regularly goes to fairs featuring them.

The cross-stitch steam roller is an Aveling and Porter model from 1922, similar to that owned by Fred.

"I loved how Fred cared so much about old machines, and it would break his heart to see old steam rollers and engines that were derelict. I feel exactly the same way about it as he did, because so much history is being lost," she said. Miss Close decided to raise money for her hero after reading about the Fred Dibnah Memorial Fund in the Bolton Evening News, and hopes to give even more money to the appeal.

Fred Dibnah died aged 66. He became an MBE in 2003 for services to heritage and broadcasting.

The raffle for Fred Dibnah prizes will be on Friday July 1 at The Cotton Tree pub, on Prince Street, Bolton.

Tickets can be bought from Miss Close on 01204 302487, and cost £1 for five tickets.

l The Fred Dibnah Memorial Appeal is raising money for a tribute to the steeplejack.

One option is to extend the Hick Hargreaves display in Oxford Street in Bolton town centre to incorporate some of Fred's machinery along with a statue of him.

The fund stands at more than £,5,000, boosted by £1,200 donated by visitors to a steam rally held at Mere Brow near Preston, last weekend.

Anyone wanting to make a donation can take a cheque made payable to "The Fred Dibnah Memorial Appeal" to Lloyds TSB, Hotel Street, Bolton, or any Lloyds TSB branch in the Bolton area.