IT looks like the Time Lords have finally beaten this Dalek — into an early retirement.

Derek the Dalek has taken pride of place in the upstairs window of costume shop Fancy That for the past six years.

But now staff at the shop in Chorley Old Road, Heaton, have decided to exterminate his career.

Shop owner Kay Heywood said: “We have had the Dalek in our top window for six years now and he’s really become an iconic local figure.

“People have always stopped in the street to take a look at him and many have told me they are sad that he’s now gone.”

Daleks are the infamous cyborg enemies of science fiction character Doctor Who, and first appeared on television screens in 1963.

They hail from the planet of Skaro and their purpose is to destroy all forms of life except their own.

Mrs Heywood, aged 49, from Sharples, revealed that it was staff at a local radio station who came up with the name Derek on Twitter.

She said: “We saw a tweet from Bolton FM calling him Derek the Dalek and it just stuck.”

Derek began life as a stage prop for local theatre groups until he made his way to Fancy That, where he has become part of the furniture.

It is not yet known who will replace him in the upstairs window display, but rumours of the Thunderbirds, Spiderman and even the Terminator are all circulating.

As for Derek, he is considering his next move.

Mrs Heywood said: “We don’t know what he will do yet — he may go and live the celebrity lifestyle or maybe go back to treading the boards in theatre.

“We have had loads of people come in and ask if they can have him, but we are going to keep him.

“One thing is certain — he is not going to be exterminated.”