TRIBUTES have been paid to Clacton's own 'tailor to the stars'.

Roy Nichols opened his business in The Grove 40 years ago.

He worked into his 70s and never retired.

Son Jason said: "He was still doing six days a week when he turned 70.

"He was very, very well known in Clacton. He was a real character and a bit of a workaholic.

"I wouldn't think there are many people who haven't been into his shop at one time or another to have a zip put in or their trousers shortened."

Mr Nichols was born in Somerset when his family were evacuees during the war.

They returned to Essex and lived in Brentwood before moving to Clacton in the late Sixties.

"The shop opened in the mid-Seventies and has been there ever since," said Jason.

"My father was such a popular figure and quite a few famous faces have been in his shop over the years."

Stars performing at the nearby Princes Theatre, such as Jim Davidson and Joe Pasquale, would pop in when their costumes needed altering.

Father-of-three Roy also made a sports jacket for Sixties boxing middleweight champion Terry Downes - nicknamed the 'Paddington Express'.

Roy was diagnosed with motor neurone disease last year. He died on June 10, aged 73.

Wife Pat is winding down the shop ahead of her retirement.

A funeral service takes place at 2pm today at Weeley Crematorium, with the cortege from leaving the shop.

The family are requesting donations to the Motor Neurone Disease Association instead of flowers.