Bradford's very own Olympic gymnast Irene Williams has died aged 69.

Mrs Williams, who fought a two-year battle against cancer, represented her country in both the 1948 London Olympics and at the Helsinki games in 1952.

And during her long and distinguished sporting career, the mother-of-two also held the regional Yorkshire gymnastics title as well as being the female British Gymnastics Champion.

Mrs Williams got a taste of the sport when she joined her mother at gym classes at the age of just three. She then signed up to Saltaire Gymnastics Club when she was 14 and began to compete seriously.

It was not long before she had moved from local and county competitions to national championships. By the time she was 18, she had been spotted by Olympic talent scouts and became one of Britain's youngest representatives at the London games.

After her own time in competition was over, Mrs Williams used her expertise to train others in the district and worked with youngsters at the Baildon Recreation Centre and Nab Wood Sports Centre.

Her rich pedigree also saw her take the role of Bradford Council's gymnastics co-ordinator.

In 1977 Mrs Williams formed the Eldwick Gymnastics Club which has produced a number of highly successful competitors and is still running today.

Before working full-time in the sports field, Mrs Williams, from Eldwick, had been employed as secretary at Bradford's Salts Mill where she met her husband Robert Williams. Mr Williams died in 1977.

Their daughter Christine Williams said: "Gymnastics was a very big part of her life. I know she was very proud to have represented her country at the Olympics."

In 1993 Mrs Williams received a gold lapel pin from the British Olympics Association to mark her achievements for the country four decades earlier.

Mrs Williams leaves daughter Christine, son Nicholas and five grandchildren.

The funeral takes place at Nab Wood Cemetery and Crematorium at noon tomorrow.