A MINUTE’S silence will take place before all cricket matches in Cumbria and Lancashire this weekend following the death of Colin Bickerstaffe, a popular and long-serving representative of the sport.

The First and Second team players of Whitehaven and Cockermouth meet today in a series of T20 matches, but before the sides clash, they will pay their respects to Mr Bickerstaffe.

Phil McCormick of Whitehaven Cricket Club said: “He was a popular, well respected official and a great servant to the league, he was always a friend to Whitehaven Cricket Club.”

Mr Bickerstaffe will be known to cricket players and volunteers across Cumbria as he served as an umpire in the North Lancashire and Cumbria Cricket League for 42 years and as secretary for eighteen seasons.

Mark Davidson of Carlisle Cricket Club said: “Colin will be sadly missed by everyone involved in cricket across Cumbria and beyond.”

He added that a minute's silence before Mr Bickerstaffe's beloved sport will be appropriate: "I think that all the grounds will be doing it across Cumbria. It's a fitting tribute for him."

Carlisle's First team faces that of Keswick Cricket Club today in two Cumbria Cricket League T20 matches.

Workington Cricket Club's First Team take on Cleator at the J.D Campbell Memorial Ground with their second team facing Seascale.