A WELL-KNOWN actor and TV presenter who starred in many Octagon Theatre plays during the 1970s and 80s has lost his fight against cancer.

Ken Binge was a regular at the Bolton theatre throughout his career and also presented the BBC's popular children's educational programme "Watch" from 1974 to 1978.

In 1985, he was forced to give up acting after he was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Ken recovered, but in May last year he was diagnosed with stomach cancer.

He died last Sunday, aged 56, leaving a wife Rosalyn, daughter Holly and son Leo.

Mrs Binge paid tribute to her "kind and talented husband" and said he was well loved by many people in Bolton's acting fraternity.

"He never really recovered from not being able to act," she said. "His first love was the theatre and he had many wonderful times at the Octagon. He will be sadly missed by his family and friends."

The London-born actor landed his first job at the Octagon in 1970. He appeared in numerous productions including All In Good Time, a play by Bill Naughton.

He left the Octagon for a couple of years where he starred at the Oldham Coliseum - along with Michael Le Vell, Malcolm Hebden and Anne Kirkbride - who now star as TV characters Kevin Webster, Norris Cole and Deirdre Rashid in Coronation Street.

After appearing at the Royal Ballet Theatre and Oldham Coliseum he rejoined the Octagon in 1979, where he spent another five successful years.

It was during a run of Tom Stoppard's The Real Inspector Hound in 1985 he found he was losing his sight and the problem was diagnosed as a brain tumour.

He studied fine arts for the next four years, gaining a BA honours degree in fine arts from Manchester Metropolitan University.

He presented the news for Newstalk, Bolton's talking news service for the blind.

A spokeswoman for the Octagon Theatre, said: "We were very saddened indeed to hear of the death of Ken Binge.

"Ken was a talented and valued member of the Octagon acting company for a number of years, and is remembered fondly by the staff who worked with him. Our thoughts are with his family and friends."

Coronation Street actor Malcolm Hebden will talk about his memories of Mr Binge at the funeral, which will take place on Thursday at Christ Church, Walmsley, at 1.30pm.