The local cricket scene has been rocked by the death of a popular, long-serving player.

Jerry Taylor (54), of Haydon Bridge, died in a motorcycle accident on the A6112 north of Coldstream, in the Scottish Borders, on Sunday morning.

Mr Taylor was well-known, and well-liked in the West Tyne Cricket League in which he played for decades, most recently as captain of Allendale’s second team.

He played at Allendale for the past two years but had previously served Newbrough, Prudhoe and Hexham Leazes. He captained the Leazes second team during his time there, and tops the list of wickets taken for the team with 258 in total.

This week, members of the local cricket community paid tribute to Mr Taylor.

Dickie Purvis, results secretary and an umpire in the West Tyne League, said: “He was an absolute gentleman, and a lovely fellow. He was just such a nice bloke and this news is just so sad.

“He was a decent bowler, in fact he was a nagging length bowler, and I remember when I played against him when he played for Prudhoe and he got 50 and hit me all over the field.”

It will perhaps be at Hexham Leazes that he will be best known, and the club released a statement on social media marking his loyal service. The statement read: “No one has taken more than his 258 wickets for the second team to which he was dedicated and served as both captain and vice-captain.”

Mr Taylor’s dedication to Allendale II never wavered even when they struggled for players. A club spokesman said: “Jerry’s enthusiasm and hard work in getting a game together each week was an example to us all.”

Police in the Scottish Borders are appealing for witnesses following the collision near Lennel at around 11.25am, involving Mr Taylor’s Honda VFR motorcycle, which was travelling north, and a white Volkswagen Polo travelling south.