FAMILY and friends of Yorkshire cricket legend Bob Appleyard gathered at Bolton Abbey Priory Church to pay their final respects.

Mr Appleyard, who had worshipped at the church for 20 years, died last month, aged 90.

Mourners included former Test umpire Dickie Bird and former team-mates Ray Illingworth, Mike Cowan, Bob Platt and Bryan Stott.

One of the greatest ever spin bowlers, Mr Appleyard took 708 wickets in 152 first-class matches, including 31 in nine Test matches for England from 1954 to 1956.

Friend and Bolton Abbey assistant priest the Rev James Turnbull said Mr Appleyard had suffered several tragedies in his life, including losing both his son and grandson to leukaemia, but he never lost his faith.