THE dad of England's favourite cricket pundit is batting on with his day job - at the ripe old age of 93.

David Lloyd, father of Sky Sports presenter and former Lancashire and England player David "Bumble" Lloyd, is still a regular helper at his local church's play group, despite being in his 90s.

Mr Lloyd senior has been making twice-weekly visits to the Child's Play Nursery at Cambridge Street Methodist Church, Accrington, for the past 10 years.

He usually reads the children a story or sings them a song before heading home to Cheltenham Avenue.

Nursery owner Lynne Sykes said: "If he doesn't come in the children always ask where he is and if he is ill they make him a card. They really enjoy having him here."

Mr Lloyd has lived in Accrington since he was a small boy, leaving Peel Park School at the age of 14, and is a well-known member of the Methodist church's congregation.

He said: "I have been coming here every day for over 80 years. The church is a very big part of my life. When the nursery opened I thought I would pop my head in and say hello. I come in now to get out of the house but it is nice to see how quickly the young ones grow up and I have made friends with many of the mothers and fathers."

Mr Lloyd's dedication to the church spreads further than the nursery. He has a passion for singing and has spent time in the church's adult choir and helped run the junior choir.

"I enjoy singing, that must be the Welsh in me," he joked.

Despite being committed to the Cambridge Street Church he was not able to marry his sweetheart Mary Aspin there. Mr Lloyd explained: "Unfortunately I wasn't married here because they didn't have a licence to carry out the ceremony so we got married at St Johns. I used to come here three times a day. I can remember my very first Sunday school teacher Billy Ratcliffe but I can't always remember what I had for dinner. I think I am part of the furniture here now."

Mr Lloyd has worked at some of Accrington's most historical buildings, having held a job in the Melbourne Cotton Mill until it closed and then in the operating theatre at Victoria Hospital.

However, he has also created his own piece of Accrington history, as the father of the cricketing star David.

Mr Lloyd senior, who has four grandchildren and five great grandchildren, said: "Football was always my game when I was a lad. David is full of bounce, he is never stuck for words. I think I am the opposite, although the children at the nursery might disagree."