THE origins of Bolton’s most famous cyborg have been revealed.

The Bolton News reported that ‘Derek’ the Dalek – who had occupied the upstairs window in the Fancy That costume shop – had retired from public life.

The news was met with sadness from people who had grown accustomed to seeing the famous foe of Dr Who in the shop in Chorley Old Road, Heaton.

Following the story, the son of the creator of Derek has come forward and shed some light on the origins of this local icon. Paul Clarke, aged 33 from Stoneclough, said that his father Les built the model as a stage prop for a cameo appearance in an amateur dramatic pantomime.

He said: “My dad, who was working as stage manager at the Trinity Church in Farnworth, was inspired when watching Blue Peter to assemble the Dalek.”

Mr Clarke revealed that the fearsome extraterr-estrial mutant was created using rather humble materials.

He said: “The arms were made using kitchen roll tubes, coat hangers and a Christmas pudding tub and the eyes were made of yoghurt pots.

“I was surprised when I saw him in the paper. I thought, I know that Dalek.

“I told my dad and he was very pleased that Derek has had a good run and was not dismantled after his career on the stage.”

It was Bolton FM radio station that had inspired staff at Fancy That to call the model “Derek”, suggesting it on social networking site Twitter.

But Mr Clarke explained that during his time in theatre he was already known as “Derek the Dancing Dalek.”

Despite that, the family have no plans to try and take Derek home.

Mr Clarke said: “We’d have nowhere to put him — he’s far too big.”