PROLIFIC stage and television actor Glyn Owen, whose career spanned 50 years, has died aged 76.

Mr Owen played Dr Paddy O'Mara in Emergency Ward 10, one of the first big soap operas on television, but was perhaps best known for his role as Jack Rolfe in Howard's Way.

More recently, he appeared in popular television shows such as Casualty, Heartbeat, Juliet Bravo, Doctor Who and Survivors.

The Bolton-born actor, who grew up in Belmont Road, Astley Bridge, before leaving the area to carry out his National Service, died at his home in North Wales on Friday night, surrounded by his family following a short illness.

Speaking from the family home near Caernarvon, his wife, Carrie, paid tribute to his career which included more than 600 television appearances.

She said: "It was a cancer-related illness and we had the family with us, which was wonderful. He was a fantastic husband and a great father. He was kind to everybody and adored his profession.

"He was very fond of his time in Bolton and took me and the children back countless times to see where he was brought up."

On his recent illness, she added: "He put up with a hell of a lot and went through it with great dignity."

Bolton Wanderers fan Mr Owen leaves two children, Cathy, aged 36, and Lloyd, aged 38, also an actor who currently stars in the BBC series Monarch of the Glen.

Lloyd, who has two children, took time off from filming to be with his father in his last days.

Among his starring roles, Mr Owen played Richard Hurst in The Rat Catchers, and Hugo in Richard the Lionheart in 1962.

In the 1960s, he was seen in the Trouble Shooters, Thorndyke and The Saint.