A veteran cricketer died during a match at the weekend.

Colin Shepherd, 63, who played for Belsay, in Northumberland, was batting for the second XI, on Saturday, when he collapsed.

Two of his teammates attempted to resuscitate him, but he failed to recover.

Yesterday, his wife, Ann, described him as a popular community figure, and caring father, who died "doing what he loved".

"He lived and breathed cricket, and it was a huge part of his life," she said.

Mr Shepherd, a credit controller, of Cramlington, had been a keen amateur cricketer for more than 40 years.

As well as captaining Belsay's second XI, he had also played for Morpeth.

He leaves a son, Mark, 35, and stepdaughters, Fiona, 37, and Sandra, 35.