A MECHANIC who raised hundreds of pounds for charity by standing on his head while drinking a pint learned the trick from a little person known as ‘Cyril the dwarf’.

61-year-old David Crompton has been performing the feat on and off since hearing about the exploits of the diminutive barfly as a youngster.

His latest rendition went ahead in aid of Help for Heroes at the Jolly Carter pub in Little Lever on Remembrance Sunday – despite complications over Mr Crompton’s recently-installed dentures.

“Along time ago, when I was about five-years-old, my grandad came home from the pub in Worsley and said that there was a little dwarf there, who would often stand on his head and drink a pint in exchange for his drink being paid for,” explained Mr Crompton, of Fearneyside, Little Lever.

“I heard this story and thought: ‘I could do that’, so I did it with a glass of water.

“A few years later I was old enough to have a drink at the pub. I tried doing it with a pint and managed it.

“I’ve since done it a lot of times over the years.”

The married father of two decided to put the technique to good use on November 13.

Dressed in his Sunday best, Mr Crompton plumped for a pint of Carling before selecting a suitable patch of carpet in front of the dartboard to plant his bonce.

Thereafter, he rolls back the years with a textbook inverted pint quaff that Cyril would have been proud of – And despite recent dentistry that would have put paid to a lesser man’s abilities.

“It was harder than before because I’ve recently I’ve lost my front teeth and had a denture put in,” added Mr Crompton, who was cheered on by son, Greg, 25 and wife, Anne, as well as a pub full of revellers who helped raise more than £600.

And what of the inspirational Cyril, whose exploits were once known far and wide?

“I actually went on to work for him when I was a bit older. He used to organise paper rounds in the area but he’s dead now,” said Mr Crompton, who works for Entune motors in Stoneclough.

To see a video of Mr Crompton performing the inverted pint quaff, visit theboltonnews.co.uk

Did you know Cyril? Get in touch with your memories of him via webdesk@theboltonnews.co.uk