BOLTON superstar steeplejack Fred Dibnah's second marriage has collapsed.

But the couple - who share a passion for steam engines - say they are determined to stay the best of friends.

Fred, aged 58, and his 38-year-old wife Sue spent yesterday morning gardening together before talking openly about their decision to part.

Despite their openness Sue refused to comment on rumours of a new man in her life.

Mother of two Sue blamed the breakdown on a combination of factors, which, she said, had resulted in her feeling the need "to seek friendship elsewhere".

She said neither the 20 year age gap between her and Fred, his job, or his hobby of steam had played a part in the "amicable" split. The school support worker told the BEN: "We are both to blame for the demise of our marriage. "It is sad it has to end up this way. We don't hate each other.

"I still care for Fred deeply and I am determined to stay the best of friends."

Sue said Fred will continue to live in the Radcliffe Road home they are both still sharing and they plan to jointly bring up their sons Jack, aged nine and five-year-old Roger.

The couple married in secret in 1987 after Fred's first marriage ended in divorce.

His former wife, Alison, mother of his three daughters, was once featured in a national Sunday newspaper under the heading "My life of hell with steeplejack Fred."

But with Sue sharing his love for steam engines it appeared their marriage was built on firmer foundations.

News of the split could not have come at a more embarrassing time for the BBC who are currently re-screening a documentary on Fred.

Fred took his sons to Moss Bank Park on his steam engine yesterday. It was a birthday treat for Jack who was nine last week. Earlier this year Fred was given permission by Bolton councillors to build a replica mine head in his back garden.

In recent years he has also been involved in a bizarre dispute with a neighbour over the noise from his workshop. IT is with sadness that we have to inform you that we are to separate. Relationships have not been good for some time.

As well as the everyday pressures of modern living, we have had to cope with a situation of conflict involving a neighbour and also the council. This has gone on for a very long time and is still unresolved.

Fred has coped well with the situation, it making him all the more determined to achieve his dreams and ambitions. Sue has found it very difficult, the conflict sometimes totally dominating their lives.

Fred is a very individual person, he enjoys his own company whilst busy in his workshops or at work. Unfortunately Sue finds this situation very isolating and as a result has felt the need to seek friendship elsewhere.

We are both very sad about the situation but realise that we both must be happy with our lives. The children are our main concern. We have decided to share care of them, each parent being involved in all aspects of their lives.

Fred and Sue are very good friends still and are determined to remain so.

We realise that the timing of this split is not good with regard to the TV series but filming was done quite some time ago."

We ask everyone's understanding, things can and do go wrong and it is not for the want of trying that it has ended this way."

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