A former regional daily photographer who went on to develop his own seaside entertainment complex has died aged 78.

Tributes have been paid to Michael Taylor, pictured below, who spent a decade at the Preston-based Lancashire Evening Post before becoming a businessman.

He spent his national service working as a photographer for the Ministry of Defence travelling around Africa and the Middle East before taking up a role at the Evening Post.

Michael’s company Carr Royd Leisure opened Pleasure Island, in the Lancashire seaside resort of St Annes, in 1993.

The resort featured a four-screen cinema, bowling alley, amusement arcade and restaurant and at one point it also boasted a casino and a static steam train.

The centre closed in 2009 but the cinema still operates on the site.

Michael also owned the award-winning Sunset caravan park in Hambleton, near the town of Poulton-le-Fylde.

During his career he was also a director of Lancashire Tourism Partnership, vice-chairman of Wyre Tourism and a past president of Kirkham and Rural Fylde Rotary.  He also served as a trustee at Blackpool’s Trinity Hospice.

Michael’s American-born wife Sandy, who he met on a QE2 cruise, said: “Michael was a strong, self made man. He will hopefully be remembered as being direct but kind, helpful and having a wicked sense of humour.

“He campaigned to upgrade the image of the caravan industry and he always cared about quality.

“He said he never wanted to retire. To Michael, retirement meant running the businesses he loved and being able to travel as he wanted.

“He did just that being in work seven days a week when at home then enjoying time off mostly cruising or visiting the USA right up until he took ill in July.”

Michael is also survived by two sons, Paul and David, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.