WARM sporting tributes were paid today to local tennis stalwart Ray Howarth, who died on Monday after collapsing on court in a tournament he had organised.

Mr Howarth, chairman of Longsight Methodist Tennis Club where he was a highly respected and active member for 40 years, collapsed while playing a match on Saturday afternoon.

He was well known and well liked on the local tennis scene, having started with Longsight juniors, progressing into the senior ranks of the Mixed Tennis League and in the Men's League.

He won two mixed doubles titles in the Bolton Sports Federation Tournament (formerly Bolton Charity Tennis) in partnership with Beverley Gregory, the Longsight club treasurer, and last year won the veterans' mixed doubles with Ilona Kilburn.

"Ray was a very popular figure," Mrs Gregory said, "both at Longsight and at the other clubs in the Bolton area. He was a much loved and respected member of the club with many friends in tennis circles throughout Bolton."

Mr Howarth, who was 52 and lived at Sandford Close, Harwood, leaves a wife, Pat.

His funeral will be at St Osmund's RC Church on Monday at 10 am prior to interment in Tonge Cemetery at 11am.