TV star and artist Timmy Mallett has hailed Macclesfield as ‘utterly brilliant’ after a visit to the town.

The celebrity cycled around the town during a mini-tour of the region, riding along Macclesfield Canal and visiting the Moss Rose.

The star – best known for his children’s show Wacaday where he wielded a giant pink mallet – is a talented painter and has an exhibition at Whitewall Galleries in Knutsford.

He took some time out to explore the county and visited Macclesfield for the first time, tweeting pictures of the sights and people he encountered along the way.

Speaking to the Express of his experience, Timmy described the town as ‘really special’.

Timmy, 60, said: “As I was in the area to launch my latest exhibition I was keen to set aside a few days to explore the area and find some inspiration for future paintings. I found that in abundance in Macclesfield.”

Timmy cycled part of the Middlewood Way, Peak Forest Canal and Macclesfield Canal before heading through the town to Gawsworth, dropping into the Rising Sun pub.

Timmy visited Macclesfield while launching an exhibition in Knutsford

He said: “The route was stunning. I was really taken by the area and loved the industrial heritage, including how that has been reused in places like the former Hovis Mill. I was very impressed.”

Timmy was also bowled over by the people he met here, especially when he was rescued from a bike disaster.

He said: “I ended up with a problem with my bike and went looking for help. It was 5pm and I feared everything was shut. A man on a bike passed and I asked for help. He turned out to be someone called Paul Johnson, who runs a bike shop and he got me out of a fix. He was utterly brilliant.

“If you judge a place by the welcome you get from the people, not just the pretty surroundings, I found Macclesfield really lovely. Really special.”

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Timmy also took a trip to see the home of Macclesfield Town.

He said: “My son is a big Oxford United fan and has travelled to the Moss Rose before. It was great to come and see such a historic ground. It was just a shame I arrived too late to pop by and say hi to the staff there.”

Timmy said he still gets recognised from his time on TV.

He said: “People are always reminding me of those catchphrases from TV. It’s lovely. I am always touched people have fond memories of that period.”

Tv star and artist Timmy Mallett Pictured with Paul Johnson of Ride and Repair in Macclesfield.