JACK Walker may be remembered by many as the millionaire benefactor whose money helped Blackburn Rovers become Premiership champions.

But to a few diehard Rovers' fans, he will be remembered as a hero for very different reasons.

On January 19 1952, Jack and his brother, Fred, had travelled to Bury with thousands of other fans to watch Rovers beat the Shakers in a Second Division clash at Gigg Lane.

But on the journey home to Blackburn victory turned to tragedy -- and Jack Walker emerged as one of the heroes of the hour.

Hundreds of fans were waiting at Bury's Knowsley Street station for the match-special train to take them home.

More than 200 were on a wooden bridge when they heard a creaking, then a crack. Then the bridge collapsed. It was a 20ft fall and men, women and children lay trapped on the tracks beneath bodies and debris from the wrecked bridge.

Jack and Fred Walker were on that bridge, but were two of the lucky ones not to plummet on to the railway lines below. But the pair forgot their own shock to scramble down to the track and help to pull injured people free. One fan remembered: "One of the heroes of that day was Jack Walker. He was just another supporter from the terraces, a true Rovers supporter."

Mr Walker also remembered the day well, and spoke to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph about it decades later, in 1992.

He said: "I was on the bridge with my brother Fred, but we didn't go down. We were at the other end.

"There were thousands of people trying to get on the bridge, then suddenly it started vibrating, rumbling and shaking, and then the middle just dropped out. It was frightening.

"We went down on to the railway line and Fred and me helped get people off the tracks -- including the mascot."

William Moses, 66, died in the tragedy and 175 people were injured. A public inquiry heard that the failure of the wrought iron straps at the bottom of the bridge had caused the collapse.