FORMER speedway rider Nigel Boocock who started his career at Odsal with the Bradford Tudors from 1955 to 1957, has died aged 77 in Australia.

He became one of England's greatest ever riders and appeared in eight World Individual Finals, and was a regular England international.

Speedway enthusiast John Murphy from Bradford said: "Perhaps his proudest moment in Speedway was the 1970 World Pairs Final when he represented his country with his brother, Eric."

After starting out in Bradford, Boocock moved on to Birmingham and Ipswich before becoming Number 1 at Coventry where he rode for 17 seasons and became known affectionately as Little Boy Blue due to the distinctive leathers he raced in.