The head of one of Brighton's oldest fishing families has died.

Ted Gillam's family can trace its roots back to the Domesday Book and his forbears fished in local waters for generations.

His three sons Ted, John and Andrew are continuing the tradition today.

Mr Gillam, 88, of Essex Place, Brighton, was a familiar face in The Argus over the years.

In 1952 he caught a 15ft thresher shark off Newhaven and later netted a killer whale.

One of his family's prize catches was a Second World War German aircraft machine gun, which was taken back to Mr Gillam's home for cleaning.

They were later told there was still a live round in the barrel and police took it away.

In 1992, Mr Gillam, known by all as Big Ted, won the £100 first prize in a Fisherman's Tales contest run by the Brighton Sea Life Centre.

Mr Gillam started fishing as a boy and in the Second World War he served in the Royal Navy aboard mine sweepers.

After the war, Mr Gillam returned to fishing off Sussex until he retired in the early Eighties.

He was regularly seen on the seafront, mending or making nets on the Lower Promenade or visiting the old fishermen's club, now the Brighton Fishing Museum.

His son Ted, who lives in Patcham, Brighton, said: "Dad was a lovely man and was very well known and respected.

"He always had time to talk to people. He will be sadly missed by his family and friends."

In recent years Mr Gilliam, a grandfather and great-grandfather, suffered with Alzheimer's disease.

Mr Gillam leaves a widow Barbara and their children Val, Ted, Jim, Linda, John and Andrew.

The family asked for donations to go to the Alzheimer's Society.

The funeral service will be at the Downs Crematorium on Wednesday, November 5, at noon.