THE daughter of the Sale man who founded Chester Zoo has died.

June Williams died at the age of 88 - less than a year after the BBC drama 'Our Zoo' told how her father, George Mottershead, overcame the odds to found the zoo in 1931.

It is now home to 11,000 animals and welcomes around 1.3million visitors a year.

George was fulfilling his dream of a 'zoo without bars' for all to enjoy.

In the early days, June was the 'face' of the zoo as her dad used her in many of the publicity shots.

While most of her school friends were getting into everyday playground scrapes she was teaching lion cubs how to roar, riding tapirs and her best friend was a chimp called Mary.

Last October, June attended a ceremony in Sale Moor organised by Trafford Council to honour her father.

June unveiled a blue plaque in his memory. The plaque is on a shop at the corner of James Street and Northenden Road, Sale Moor, where George ran a fitness studio.

Local historian George Cogswell, who researched George's life after discovering the Sale link, said: "How sad, June was such a lovely unpretentious lady who had such an incredible upbringing at the zoo."

George Saul Mottershead, was born at Lindow Terrace (now Lindow Street), on June 12, 1894, to parents Lucy and Albert, a nurseryman.

By 1901 the family was living at Old Hall Road, Sale Moor, and then in 1912/13 moved around the corner to Northenden Road.

In 1920, George, his wife Elizabeth, their three-year-old daughter Muriel, and George's parents left Sale.

They moved to a farm cottage in Shavington, near Crewe. George opened a small zoo here.

The zoo eventually established in the 1930s built a global reputation for its conservation, educational and environmental work while George earned national and international recognition, including the OBE in 1973, five years before his death aged 83.

June was played by Honor Kneafsey in the BBC series. Her father was portrayed by Inspector George Gently actor Lee Ingleby.

Her death was announced on May 1.