THERE are town drunks . . . and then, again, there are the undisputed heavy-duty champions of guzzling.

In that latter category William (Yellowbird) Owen stood supreme, having clocked up more than 100 convictions for drunkenness.

William, who earned his nickname as the result of his jaundiced complexion (hardly suprising considering his hefty daily intake) was apparently a resident of the old Salisbury Street lodging house, St Helens, close to the Royal Raven pub where he regularly imbibed to excess in bygone times.

He was reputed to have clocked up a total of 117 court appearances, drawing such weary response from the local Bench as "No, not you again, Owen!", when brought up, on tottering legs, from police cells.

A veteran reader, who wishes to remain anonymous, provides this froth-blowing anecdote following a request by a fan of this page for any info about Yellowbird, often spoken of by his late father.

Other readers now crave any details about other town-centre characters, from around the 1940s and 50s, such as Cockney Bob Dudley and a cart-pulling hawker known as Owd Salt.

ANYONE able to oblige could kindly drop me a line at the Star.