A DARWEN artist is celebrating after his paintings were picked to adorn the walls of one of the most well-known pubs in the country - the Rovers Return.

Brian Bibby is hoping to turn professional and now that millions of soap fans will be seeing his work on Coronation Street four nights a week he might realise his dream.

The paintings depict traditional Lancashire life at the end of the industrial era and can be seen on most episodes hanging behind characters such as Martin Platt and Steve MacDonald.

One of the paintings, which shows an elderly couple sitting looking out at the old mills, has been featured highly during the last couple of weeks as it hangs next to the men's toilets in the pub, which have been getting a new look.

The second is on display near to the jukebox .

Mr Bibby, 51, of Cemetery Road, said: "I know one of the cameramen on Corrie and I had asked him a few times if there would be any chance of getting some of my work on set. They got a new set manager and he put it to him that he could borrow some of my paintings.

"He told him to bring them and they loved them and said yes."

Mr Bibby, a builder by day, added: "They are on permanent loan to the Rovers Return now. I'm not getting paid, but the promotion from them being there will hopefully be enough for me. I'm printing them off now and selling them. I don't want to be working on a building site all my life and I have always wanted to paint for as long as I can remember.

My mum watches Corrie all the time and she's really proud of me. You don't really think how big it actually is. Millions of people watch the show. Hopefully some will spot my paintings and like them."