CELEBRITY steeplejack Fred Dibnah has been forced to pull out of public appearances as he battles with cancer.

The TV star was due to appear at a sell-out show in Mansfield on September 8 but his agent said that the performance had been cancelled due to his poor health.

He was taken ill on Tuesday while filming for a new series with the BBC.

Fred, aged 66, of Radcliffe Road, The Haulgh, was diagnosed with cancer three years ago.

He told the Bolton Evening News in April that he had given up on chemotherapy and wanted to enjoy the rest of his life.

Agent Martin Nazaruk said: "Sadly, he is extremely unwell and in a serious condition so will therefore not be continuing with any other public performances.

"Fred sends his most sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused."

Steam enthusiast Fred was filming 12 programmes as he tours Britain on his newly restored Aveling & Porter 1912 Steam Tractor.

The filming, which has seen him visit steam heritage centres and engineers across the country, was due to finish this month.

Fred, who received an MBE in the Queen's New Year honours list, was diagnosed with bladder cancer three years ago and has had a kidney removed and several courses of chemotherapy.

His family yesterday said that he needed "time to rest".

Staff at Mansfield Palace Theatre, where next Wednesday's show was cancelled, are contacting 600 people who bought tickets to offer a full refund.

Manager Andrew Tucker said: "Fred is an amazing raconteur and he can talk about a variety of subjects from steam engines to chimneys to beautiful old buildings.

"And he makes something which could be boring if told by someone else extremely interesting of told by him.

"So the show was really going to be a scaled down version of what he'd do on TV, which is amazingly interesting."