BOLTON'S favourite steeplejack celebrated receiving his MBE by touring London in his legendary steam traction engine.

Tourists were agog when Fred turned up at various London tourist spots on the engine.

His tour started at the Wellington barracks of the Irish guards with his next stop being Parliament Square but he did not go too far before popping into a pub for a pint at Whitehall.

The next stop was the London Eye where tourists going around in the huge wheel could not only spot Big Ben and the Tower of London - they could spot Fred and his steam traction engine too.

Fred's trip does not stop there. His next venture is to journey through the Midlands down to Cornwall and the West Country and then work back up the country via Wales, Shropshire, Cheshire and eventually Bolton. His trip will finish in September.

The traction engine is an Aveling & Porter 1912 Steam Tractor, which Fred has lovingly restored at his home in The Haulgh.

Fred was not the only Bolton connection at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday.

Bolton photographer Ian Jones was shocked to come face to face with Fred because the steeplejack was his first project for the Bolton School Photographic Society. Ian has since gone on to become Royal photographer for the Daily Telegraph and was assigned to spend five months with Prince William in the run up to his 18th birthday.

The 38-year-old, from Ladybridge, who now lives in Berkshire, said: "It was certainly strange to see Fred in a top hat and tails.

"He looked genuinely delighted on the day and everyone there had a fantastic time.

"It was a great moment for me once again to photograph one of the great legends of Bolton."

Fred went to London with his wife Sheila and his two sons, Jack, aged 16, and Roger, aged 13.

Fred said: "The whole family had a great day out and it was a fantastic occasion - even though my top hat kept blowing off! I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate than touring around London showing the southerners my traction engine. I popped in at Westminster and had a lovely pint nearby then went on to the London Eye.

"It was good to see everyone's faces when they saw my engine coming down the street with all the black cabs!"