TRIBUTES have been paid to a former Warrington boxer who died last week.

Alf Taylor, who attended Richard Fairclough School in Latchford, was well known throughout the town as a champion fighter.

School friend Fred Bishop, aged 81, said the pair joined the Royal Marines after leaving school and both fought in India, although serving in different fleets, at which point they lost touch.

Fred, who attended Alf's funeral, held at All Hallows Church in Fox Covet on Tuesday, said: "Alf was one of the people who put Warrington on the map. He was trained under Johnny Best at the Liverpool Stadium and won plenty of boxing trophies.

"He was the only person I know of to fight at Wilderspool Stadium. Alf was certainly a boxing legend in Warrington."

Last week the Guardian reported how a row had broken out between the ambulance service and Mr Taylor's family, who claimed they had to wait for an ambulance to arrive from Runcorn after Mr Taylor fell down the stairs.