DAVID Herriman was acclaimed as a living legend of Merseyside sport this week.

Already the winner of the lifetime-achievement prize at this year's inaugural Halton Sports Awards, the Widnes Rugby Union Club stalwart has now received the same accolade at regional level.

He beat off counterparts from neighbouring authorities Liverpool, Wirral, Sefton, Knowsley and St Helens at the Merseyside Sport Future Sporting Champions dinner.

The latest award recognises, as did its Halton equivalent, Herriman's 48-year contribution to rugby union which has spanned the local scene to international level and all points in between.

He first joined the Wids in January 1955 and made his first-team debut aged 15.

During his playing career, he also represented the British Army of the Rhine against the West German national side.

Positions held at the Wids, meanwhile, include club president, chairman, ground and building chairman, fixture secretary, coach, assistant coach and founder of the original mini-junior section in 1979.

A Lancashire County RFU junior selector from 1973-1976, he worked on the organisation of the RFU pilot league competition in the 1980s.

Herriman also refereed from 1989-92 and has been the Widnes club's county representative for 12 years, also serving on the Lancashire Cup committee which he formerly chaired.

He received an honours tie in 2002 for service to Lancashire Rugby and was an active administrator with the red rose team which won last season's County Championship.

Nationally, David is part of the RFU working group looking into the decline of adult rugby.

He also worked as a liaison officer for the 2002 Commonwealth Games Rugby Sevens, looking after the Tongan national team.

He says: 'Sport is the finest thing to get involved in. The friends I have made over the years is absolutely amazing.'

Herriman received a plaque recognising his achievement during a star-studded dinner in Liverpool, at which the special guest was former world mile record holder Steve Cram.

Also representing the borough were four other winners from the Halton Sports Award, which were co-sponsored by the borough council, Halton Sports Partnership and the Weekly News.

Gymnast Emma Smith (Young Sports-person of the Year), Halton Netball Club (Club of the Year), Chris Middlehurst of Simms Cross ARLFC (Coach of the Year) and Halton & District Junior Football League secretary Brian Lee (Volunteer of the Year) all received mementoes for being nominated.

The other Halton winner, international hockey star Nicky O'Donnell, also attended the dinner but, sadly, there was no Sportsperson-of-the-Year category in the Merseyside awards for her to contest.

Councillor Phil Harris, Halton council's executive board member for sport, said: 'It was a great evening and a fitting tribute to the efforts of all those who were nominated.

'The talents and achievements will now be recognised every year and the council are pleased to have played their part in helping this come about.'