MORE than 12 months after his death, the talents of Bolton steeplejack star Fred Dibnah are winning more fans than ever.

Satellite TV channel UKTV History has been broadcasting Fred Dibnah Sundays with popular back-to-back broadcasts of some of his best-known programmes, including his Building of Britain, and Industrial Age series.

And a 12-part television tribute to Fred - who died from cancer at the age of 66 in November, 2004 - is to be screened by the BBC this year. The biographical series will show previously unseen footage of Fred spanning the past seven years.

Called Fred Dibnahs World of Steam, Steel and Stone, it will also chart the contribution he has made to Britains knowledge and appreciation of its architectural, industrial and engineering heritage.

David Hall, who worked with Fred on his TV programmes from 1998, attributes greater national interest in these areas directly to the enthusiastic Boltonian.

"Before, no-one had done anything about industrial history but since then there has been a great revival of interest in this area," he said.

Brian Tetlow, chairman of the Bolton and District Civic Trust, echoed these sentiments, adding that Fred himself was 'a national treasure'.

The trust has paid for a commemorative blue plaque to be erected at Freds home in Radcliffe Road, The Haulgh, in March, reading "The home of the late Dr Fred Dibnah, MBE, steeplejack, honorary doctorate of Aberdeen and Birmingham Universities."

It also hoped that there will be a memorial in the town centre.

His TV programmes and his work away from the camera helped throw the spotlight on important parts of the nations heritage.

"He was a part of our heritage and that is why we are trying to ensure there is a permanent memorial to him in Bolton town centre," said Mr Tetlow.