WELL-known former Bury newsagent Alan Booth, who played a role in various aspects of community life, has died at the age of 79.

Mr Booth, whose popular shop was in The Mall, died at Bury Hospice on Sunday after a long illness. He is survived by his wife, Audrey, son Stuart and daughters Eileen and Lynne.

He died just hours after the 65th Bury and District Agricultural Society Show of which he was chairman for a number of years.

Previously, his newsagents had served three generations of town centre customers. He and his wife Audrey bowed out of the business in January, 1995, when he retired.

In the early days, he had run a toffee shop for ten years in Bury's former Princess Street and actually made sweets on the premises. Later, the couple moved into the newsagents business and they became the first tenants to transfer into the redeveloped town centre precinct, now Mill Gate, around 42 years ago.

His daughter, Lynne, recalled: "When the shop opened, my dad had to wheelbarrow all the papers into the newsagent along the makeshift paths at the time."

Over the years, Booth Newsagents became a magnet for generations of customers and before Mr Booth retired the shop was served by ten full-time and part-time staff.

In his spare time, he was a keen walker and climber and tackled the likes of the Himalayas and Mount Kilimanjaro.

He was a founder member of the East Lancashire Walkers Group and a member of the Footpaths Association.

In keeping with his profession, Mr Booth was a long-term member of the Bury and District Retail Newsagents' Federation and its president for three years. He was also president of Bury Chamber of Trade for more than three years and a member and office bearer of the former Bury and District Chamber of Commerce.

He supported various worthwhile causes close to this heart. For many years, he was a key member of the Bury and District Agricultural Society and was involved in the organisation of its annual show. He held the post of president and chairman in 2005. He was also involved in the borough's twinning committee which promoted links with Bury's twin towns in France and Germany.

A long-time supporter of Bury Hospice, he was on the fundraising committee. His family are anxious that this connection be recognised and are asking mourners to wear the sunflower hospice symbol at the funeral service at St Anne's Church, Tottington, next Tuesday at 11.30am, followed by burial in the church grounds. Donations can also be made to Bury Hospice.