AMATEUR Cricket players and fans were today mourning the sudden death of a well known friend and colleague.

Lancashire League assistant secretary Dave Shepherd died suddenly last night, just hours after attending a cricket meeting.

Mr Shepherd, 60, lived in Highercroft Road, Lower Darwen, with his partner Marilyn Lowe and spent many years playing cricket before becoming an umpire.

In recent months he had been running a junior competition for the league and was a member of the committee at Rishton Cricket Club.

Bert Hanson, chairman of the Lancashire League, said the former policeman, who leaves a daughter Tracey, was well-liked by everyone.

He said: "I knew he wasn't well but I am absolutely stunned because I only saw him last night.

"He was so dedicated to cricket and everybody knew him. "He was popular man, very diligent, and gained a lot of respect for his umpiring, which he did for some 16 years.

"He had done a lot of work with youngsters recently.

"I am sure everyone in the league will be stunned. He is a very good mate of mine and will be missed by everyone on the cricket scene."

Chairman of Rishton Cricket Club Rod Simpson said he was stunned by the news.

He went on: "Dave was a great friend of mine and of the club. He was a giant of the Lancashire League and will be missed. This is such a terrible shock."

Peter Hargreaves, secretary of the Lancashire League umpires, said: "I am shocked. I was with him at a meeting only last night. "We will really miss him.

"It will be a sad loss to the Lancashire League."

Former chairman of Rishton Cricket Club John Gibson added: "He was an absolutely tremendous bloke. He was very influential at Rishton and played a major part in bringing the crciekt superstar to the club for games in the holidays.

"He will be very sadly missed."

Secretary of the Lancashire League Lionel Cooke added: "He was a lovely bloke. We were of the same type of build and this is a great shock. It is very sad. He will be missed."