FARNWORTH Little Theatre has paid tribute to former member Frank Finlay, who died on Saturday aged 89.

The theatre group's president Norman Pickles described him as a "perfectionist".

Mr Finlay, who attended St Gregory the Great School in Farnworth, began his acting career in his hometown's local amateur theatre society, starring in productions of Miranda, Trespass, Casanova and Bouquet of Barbed Wire before being spotted by Laurence Olivier while at RADA.

Mr Pickles, aged 89, said: "I performed in a few plays with him. We both had parts in Miranda in 1951, which was about a mermaid - a part which his wife Doreen Shepherd played. They actually met at the theatre group. The following year we were in a play together called Trespass.

"He was an absolute perfectionist and would spend a lot of time working on his character and rehearse every single gesture. You could tell that he was something special even then.

"He will be greatly missed."

Mr Finlay was known for a number of roles on screen including the 1970s Three Musketeers films as Porthos alongside actors like Oliver Reed, Richard Chamberlain and Michael York.

His performance in 1965's Othello, where he played Iago, brought him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars.

He was awarded a CBE in 1984

Tributes have poured in from co-stars and fans alike on social media after his death was announced on January 30.

On Twitter, well known faces joined together to remember the actor, who also appeared in Count Dracula as Professor Van Helsing and Return of the Solider as William Grey.

Former James Bond star Sir Roger Moore called Finlay a "great co-star" in the 1978 war film The Wild Geese.

Loose Women star Sherrie Hewson tweeted: "So very sad! The wonderful actor Frank Finlay has died! Amazing talent will always be remembered."

Singer David Essex said: "So sorry that dear Frank Finlay passed away yesterday. He was a wonderful Actor and a gentleman. As Bligh in Mutiny he was inspiring RIP."