An Alsager picture framer is hanging his tools up and retiring – with fond memories of the day he worked on a real Picasso painting.

Not only that, the talented 62-year-old says that isn't the only famous thing he has framed during the 30 years his Lawton Road shop – "Pharaoh Frames" has been open.

Steve Brown says making a cabinet box frame for ancient Indian apache arrows and framing early newspapers so fragile he could barely handle them are key memories.

And his memories of the day a customer asked him to frame a real Picasso are now "faded" but from what he can recall it wasn't one of the Spanish painter's most popular ones.

"It was someone I had a long-standing business relationship with. I don't think it was one of Picasso's most famous paintings but put it this way, it didn't stay in the shop overnight!

"It's not often you get the chance to frame something which is worth millions of pounds but I have worked on some other wonderful works of art.

"The apache arrows were quite something. I made a box to put them in so they could be seen yet protected."

Steve, who originally worked as a marine engineer in Crewe, says he will miss his regular customers and the lovely memories he has built up.

But Steve, a musician in his spare time, says he wants to spend more time travelling and exploring other hobbies.

The businessman, orginally from Kidsgrove, named his shop "Pharaoh Frames" which he opened in 1992, after the country he loves holidaying in - Eygpt.

He has another business wiring guitar pedals called "Swift Pedals" which is on-line and says he will probably continue with.

Steve doesn't quite know when he will be closing his doors for good but thinks it may be a matter of "two or three weeks".

In the meantime though, he is having a massive closing down sale at Pharaoh Frames with big discounts on any stock left.

"Everything must go and there's lots to choose from and some real bargains," said Steve.