PERHAPS best known for his portrayal of the grumpy bus driver in the televised play 'Our Day Out', Prescot actor Billy Moores has died aged 80.

Billy, who lived in Beechwood Grove with his wife Charmayne, died after suffering from a chest infection which led to pneumonia.

The father of four and granddad of six is also remembered for playing pub drunk Septic Cedric in '80s sitcom 'Watching' alongside Liza Tarbuck and Emma Wray.

He has appeared in several other television programmes, including Alan Bleasdale's 'Boys from the Black Stuff' and 'No Surrender', as well as soap 'Brookside' and 'Heartbeat'.

Billy's daughter Samantha told the Star they are still expecting him to walk through the door saying: "Told you I was a good actor, didn't I?"

She said: "We can't believe he's not here. We'll all miss him but we have so many happy memories. He'll never be forgotten."

She added: "He was larger than life and was born to be an actor. He preferred not being himself to being himself."

Billy - born in October 1934 to George and Lillian Moore - became Moores after his father accidentally wrote an extra 's' on his birth certificate.

He was born in Whiston and, after moving to Huyton during his childhood, returned to Whiston and later moved to Prescot.

He attended Rainhill High School, went to drama college in Liverpool and began his acting career in local am-dram, performing with the Rainhill Garrick Society and the Rainhill Amateur Operatic Society.

He met dance teacher wife Charmayne more than 50 years ago when they both appeared together on stage in musical Oklahoma!

Samantha said: "He's always done theatre - from musical and pantomimes to Shakespeare.

"He was always very busy until he started having dialysis in his late 40s and that slowed his career a bit."

Off the stage and screen, Liverpool FC supporter Billy enjoyed playing cricket and football and taught five-a-side.

Comments about Billy on Facebook include 'smashing feller', 'great character' and 'I always enjoyed banter with Billy when we met'.

He leaves children Chris, Philip, Michaela and Samantha.

His funeral takes place on Friday (April 24) at St Helens Crematorium at 11am and then afterwards at The Clock Face pub in Derby Street, Prescot.