Wilfrid Towriss has hung up his umpire's coat for the last time - at the age of 90.

The Bradford Mutual Sunday School League stalwart, who began umpiring 40 years ago when he retired as a player, declared his marathon innings closed on Saturday.

His last match - a second team game between Daisy Hill and Cambing - ended a career of more than 70 years, all spent in the Sunday School League.

It was an emotional day for him and he admitted: "I nearly started crying when both teams formed a guard of honour for me as I left the field.

"It's been a poor summer, but at least the weather was fine and sunny for my last match although we had to wait for an hour for the wicket to dry out.

"I have been involved in cricket as a player and an umpire for a long time and I have enjoyed every minute.

"One of the reasons I have given up was that I decided not to renew my car licence which ran out recently.

"I live at Wilsden and the buses only run every hour. I have often been taken home from matches, but sometimes not and if I just miss a bus it means a long wait."

The highlights of his playing career include a cup and league double for Muff Field second team in 1946 and playing for the first team when they won the Sir James Roberts Cup two years later. He recalls the final was played at Great Horton Methodists against the former St Jude's Church Club.

"I have enjoyed umpiring," he said. "They keep bringing out new laws, but I manage to keep abreast of them.

"Also I don't like to give in to the weather. If the lads want to play I am willing to let them. I don't take the players off unless conditions warrant it."

Now his playing and umpiring days are over, Towriss is looking forward to watching cricket for pleasure next season - and paying for his tea.

"I have had plenty of free teas," he said. "So now I want to watch the cricket and pay for my tea."

His son Roy said: "He loves the game of cricket. Cricket is his life. He played for Muff Field until he was almost 50. He was opening batsman for the first team for years and a good batsman too. Then as he got older he became captain of the second team.

"When he gave up playing he didn't want to lose touch with the game so he became an umpire and he never looked back. He has been umpiring every Saturday for 40 years since then. He took his umpiring very seriously and he went for his eyes and ears testing every year to make sure he was all right, but now he has decided to call it a day. He keeps fit by walking."

League president Jim Robinson, who is also an umpire, said: "I have known Wilfrid for many years. He has been a stalwart of the league and a really nice chap. We are sorry to lose him, but these things happen.

"I was umpiring with him at a match recently and I told him he was doing the right thing. Umpiring is getting more and more difficult as more and more rules come out.

"I asked him how he managed to stand all the time at a match and he said he was a keen walker and the exercise helped him."