'He was the most genuine man you could meet': Remembering Preston's famous window cleaner Arthur Eteson

He was a familiar face in Preston, known for cleaning windows on Ribbleton Lane for almost six decades.

After the sad news of his passing last week, November 20, aged 79, the Top Cafe and Uncle's Pawnbrokers have been raising money for his funeral, as he had no living family left.

Lee and Neil Cheetham, of Uncle's Pawnbrokers, had been close friends to Arthur for more than 30 years and said he 'had a heart of gold' - they were the closest thing to a family that Arthur had.

They have since placed his ladder, adorned with flowers, outside the shop in remembrance of him.

Known for his generosity and carrying money, Arthur's Dodgson Road flat was broken into in the early 1980's and he ended up homeless.

Lee offered out his self contained flat, above the pawnbrokers on Ribbleton Lane, and let Arthur stay there for nothing.

Lee said: "He had absolutely no family, but had been a close friend of my grandma's for years. He was like a samaritan to people, always doing things for people and always giving.

"We eventually took him in and he lived in the flat above our shop. He refused to put the heating on because of how much it would cost us and used to just put a jumper on.

"In the end we set the heating on and took the thermostat off the wall so he didn't get a choice. He came to ours every single Christmas and boxing day and was really part of the family.

"He was the most genuine man you could ever meet and everyone knew him as the hard worker he was. He will be missed by many."