Martin Ruane, who died after a two-year battle with cancer, on 29 November, 1998, aged just 52, found fame as TV wrestler Giant Haystacks.

He was said to weigh more than 48st at his heaviest, and is said to have eaten three pounds of bacon and a dozen eggs for breakfast to maintain his strength.

Famous in the 1970s for ITV wrestling with characters such as Big Daddy, Kendo Nagasaki and Mick McManus, he also toured the UK and the world to display his particular brand of showmanship.

When the sport became less popular in the UK, he travelled to America to find fame as the Loch Ness Monster in 1995, but his adventure there was short-lived as he was forced to return home after being diagnosed with cancer.

Martin Ruane was born on 10 October, 1946, in Camberwell Green, London, to a family from County Mayo, Ireland. They left for Manchester, which Ruane was to call home for the rest of his life.

His parents had high hopes for him as a musician but that career path was never to be.

He was always a colossal character, reaching 6ft 11in, and began wrestling in 1967 after trying out labouring, road-building and being a doorman.

He was also strictly religious, despite his occupation, and refused to fight on a Sunday.

Despite wrestling from the late 1960s, doing the rounds of seaside pavilions and city arena, Mr Ruane (Giant Haystacks) did not hit the big time or become a household name until he became involved with the television circus that took over Saturday afternoon television.

Long-running feuds with Big Daddy and Kendo Nagasaki ramped up TV ratings during the 1970s and early 80s, when teatime bouts were shown on ITV's World of Sport to keep the nation hooked, with around 10m regular viewers.

His speciality move was the "splash", in which he would appear to flatten his opponent by diving on them from the edge of the ring.

He counted Sir Paul McCartney as a friend, and the singer made sure he appeared in his 1984 film Give My Regards to Broad Street, as well as watching the big man grapple in the ring whenever he could.

His sport took him around the globe, and he was a popular figure in Germany and Africa, even being made an honorary citizen of Zimbabwe.