TRIBUTES have been paid to former Bolton police chief Alan Sewart, who died suddenly on Monday at his retirement home in Easingwold, Yorkshire.

During a long police career Mr Sewart, aged 69, reached the rank of Chief Inspector in the Bolton force in 1967.

He first joined the police in Bolton in 1949 before leaving to serve with the British police in Cyprus in 1956.

In a varied career he also worked in Bury, Ashton-under-Lyne and at Lancashire Constabulary headquarters in Preston following a major re-organisation of police forces in 1969.

He retired from his post in the Lancashire force discipline and complaints department in 1978. Mr Sewart was also well known as an author of many crime novels. He was awarded the Colonial Police Medal and long service medals.

Assistant Chief Constable of Lancashire David Smith said: "He had a long and distinguished career and was a very highly regarded officer."

He leaves a widow Dorothy, children Mark, Kathryn and Paul, daughter-in-law Caroline and grandchildren James and Victoria.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.