Snooker star Alex Higgins died yesterday evening after a long battle with throat cancer.

The 61-year-old former world champion was known as the Hurricane by his many fans.

Higgins, from Northern Ireland, was diagnosed with throat cancer more than 10 years ago.

Snooker promoter Barry Hearn said Higgins would be remembered as the "original people's champion" and the man who transformed the popularity of the sport.

Hearn said: "I have known him for nearly 40 years. He was the major reason for snooker's popularity in the early days. He was controversial at times, but he always played the game in the right spirit.

"We will miss him - he was the original people's champion."

Reports said Higgins was yesterday discovered at a block of flats in the centre of Belfast. He had been unwell for some time.

The player had not been answering his mobile phone and the flat had to be broken into, sources close to him said.