A former production manager who oversaw a regional daily’s presses when it was selling 100,000 copies a day has died aged 101.

Tributes have been paid to former Lancashire Telegraph production manager William Main, left, who ran the printing operation at the newspaper’s Blackburn base from 1969 to 1985.

Originally from Aberdeen, he moved to Lancashire when the Telegraph job came up in the 196os and stayed there for the rest of his career.

William, a dad-of-two, grandfather-of-four and great-grandfather-of-four, died at Haydock Nursing Home in Blackburn.

Having trained in print production in Scotland during the 1930s, William insisted on remaining there until his son had finished school.

Son Derek, 64, told the Telegraph: “My dad wanted a new job, but he didn’t want to take anything as he thought it would be too disruptive taking me out of school so we stayed until I had finished.

“The first job that came up was the one he got at the Lancashire Telegraph. It was a good move as we all settled into Blackburn, he really enjoyed living here.”

“I was incredibly proud of him and the work that he did. He oversaw thousands of editions of the paper which back then the paper was selling around 100,000 copies a day.

“He rose to become second in line to the managing director and was as important as the editor.”

After the death of his wife Sylvia in 1998 William relocated to Stalmine, near Blackpool.