"UMPIRES' umpire" Wally Ashley has died aged 71 in Burnley General Hospital after a lifetime on the cricket field.

Mr Ashley, of Hurstwood, Worsthorne, was responsible for training cricket umpires in East Lancashire and was a leading light in the sport.

He was chairman of the East Lancashire Umpires' Association and secretary of the Lancashire League Umpires' Association.

He lived most of his life in the Burnley area and worked for the water board in the town.

But it was his interest in cricket that put him in the spotlight at grounds across East Lancashire.

He umpired in the Lancashire League from the late 1960s until the early 1990s.

After retiring from the league he kept up his interests at the crease in the Burnley Midweek League before retiring last year.

Mr Ashley saw many top class club professionals at the stumps and he umpired at least one Worsley Cup final.

As well as keeping an eye on matches he also shared his experience with new umpires.

Colleague Joe Collier said: "He was a very kind and a very good instructor.

"We had a lot of fun together because he had a very good sense of humour."

Mr Ashley died on Sunday. He leaves his widow, Lee. The couple had no children.

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