Potty training - help me please!

[Littleonesaid]

DS has just turned 3. Last week I decided on nuclear option of getting rid of nappies. I take him to loo roughly every hour and that keeps him largely dry but today he's had 3 accidents.

Problem is he NEVER tells me when he needs to go. In fact he denies it and then does a huge wee when I bribe/coerce him onto the potty. He also seems incapable of pulling his pants up and down himself (although I keep showing him what to do).

Secondly he's holding in poo until he has his nappy on at night. Which means I have to get him up and changed in the night. I'm now so stressed about him getting a sore bottom that I'm setting my alarm so can check him.

Can anyone offer any tips on how to get him to tell me when he needs to go (we currently use praise, stickers & choc buttons as rewards). Or am I flogging a dead horse and he's just not ready?