THE man who changed the face of a Worcester radio station and raised thousands of pounds for local charities has died.

Norman Bilton was managing director of Wyvern FM for 14 years before retiring in 1997.

He turned the image of the Barbourne Terrace station around and boosted its listener figures.

One of his lasting achievements was the £3.9m buy-out by Great Western Radio.

Mr Bilton, who was 61, was described by former colleagues as "a man of no nonsense".

"He didn't suffer fools gladly, but he was very fair," said Rich Edwards, who worked alongside Mr Bilton at Wyvern FM for 14 years.

"People knew they had to get on with the job in hand. He had a no-nonsense northern approach."

During his time at Wyvern, Mr Bilton helped the radio station raise more than £1.2m through the Charity Snowball Appeal.

"Hundreds of local charities benefited from the appeal. Most people will remember him for that," said Mr Edwards.

Mr Bilton worked in commercial radio for 25 years, until ill health forced him to retire.

"He was one of the hardest bosses in the world," said Martin Hollings, who now works at Classic Gold.

"He turned what was an ailing Wyvern FM around and sold it on."

Mr Bilton lived in Malvern until his death last week.

A funeral service is due to take place in his home town of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.