FUNFAIR boss Henry Hill has died of a heart attack while on holiday in the Canary Islands.

Henry senior -- or Big Henry as he was known in the showman's world -- was 58.

The head of the biggest fairground operation in the area, he was one of eight brothers and two sisters born in a caravan in Bolton. The family business was founded by his father, Albert, in 1901.

Mr Hill and his wife, Valerie, regularly took January breaks in Gran Canaria and had just returned to their Peurto Rico apartment when he collapsed.

Mr Hill's son, Henry junior, explained: "It's a tremendous shock. Dad had just walked into the room and was looking out at the harbour when he collapsed.

"I flew out with my wife Karen and we brought my mum back to Bolton. The authorities said dad wouldn't have felt anything -- he died instantly.

"He had achieved everything he set out to do. Mum is now in charge of the business which will continue as before."

As a child, Big Henry survived a fire at Tyldesley Wakes which left him and his brother, Terence, with serious injuries. But he overcame that setback to spearhead the successful funfair business, and was instrumental in organising the entertainment for the recent Bolton Charter celebrations.

Mr Hill's body has still to be flown home from the Canaries. His funeral is expected to attract friends and showmen from all over Britain.