A DEL BOY impersonator from Timperley is celebrating more than 40 years as a DJ, not so much wheeler-dealing as spinning his way around the country.

Steve Rooney, 54, first took to the decks at the age of 12 at Heyes Lane Youth Club and has wowed guests at weddings, engagements and birthdays since the age of 14.

A one-time regular on Sunday nights at the Townhouse in Sale, he now plays on weekends at the Stanneylands Hotel in Wilmslow and at Flannagans in Blackpool.

He joked: “I’ve been going longer than Cliff Richard!”

For the last 12 years the former Heyes Lane Junior School and Wellington High School for Boys pupil has also been charming the crowds as loveable Cockney geezer Derek Trotter from Only Fools and Horses.

One of his more memorable gigs was at Richard Branson’s old mansion in Oxfordshire, an event hosting 93,500 people over three days where co-celebrities included Marilyn Monroe and James Dean – well, their lookalikes.

Although he loved the experience, Steve said; “It was boiling hot and there was me with my camel coat on!”

He has also appeared as Del Boy on the BBC and on Harry Hill’s TV Burp.

He confesses though that ladies fall for him more in character than as himself.

He joked: “As soon as I take the gear off I can’t pull.”

There is no stopping the multi-talented Steve though.

In true Del Boy style he said: “He who dares, go for it!”