A KIDDERMINSTER-born man who helped set up an Australian factory for one of the town's carpet firms has died, aged 87.

Reg Gill died in Dandengong, near Melbourne. He had been educated at King Charles Grammar School before spending most of his working life with Victoria Carpets.

In 1956, he travelled to Australia with Hamish Anton to establish the Victoria works there and became a director of the Australian branch of the company.

During the Second World War, Mr Gill served as a wireless operator and air gunner with the RAF.

As he returned from a Bomber Command mission in 1942, his aircraft was shot down over the English Channel. After swimming for several hours, he was finally rescued.

Mr Gill, who was a good sportsman, is survived by his wife, Dorothy, and son, Andrew.