FORMER champion swimmer Lawrence "Lol" Hester has died.

Mr Hester, 88, lived at Springfield Court, South Street, Bacup and died in Rochdale Infirmary shortly after being taken ill.

A Bacup resident all his life, he was Lancashire Schoolboys swimming champion at the age of 13 and was Bacup's champion swimmer many times in the 1950s and 1960s.

He was also an exceptional water polo player for Bacup Amateur Swimming Club.

Up to a fortnight ago Mr Hester went swimming at Burnley's Thompson Centre. He was a member of Bacup Cricket Club and Bacup Conservative Club and a regular attender at mass at St Marys' RC Church, Bacup.

Mr Hester had worked in the building trade as a bricklayer and in later years worked on house repairs for Rossendale Borough Council.

He is survived by his daughter Pat, son Peter, stepdaughters Yvonne and Elaine, son in law Andrew, daughters in law Pam and Shirley, seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

Interment will take place at Bacup cemetery tomorrow morning after a service at St Mary's RC Church, Bacup, at 10am.