AN Olympic Freestyle Wrestler who has been involved with the sport for 45 years has been honoured with an award for outstanding contribution to British wrestling.

Tony Morris, of Dales Brow, Sharples, has been a member of Bolton Olympic Wrestling Club since he was a teenager and has held a number of Lancashire Champion, Northern Counties Championship and National Championship titles.

Mr Morris, aged 62, became a voluntary coach when his competitive career came to an end.

He went on to coach the England Team for the Commonwealth Games in Canada, in 1994 and had a successful team of eight wrestlers bringing back three silver medals and a bronze medal.

He worked as an engineer for British Aerospace and wrestled in his spare time.

He also taught his son, Paul, from the age of six and he was selected to represent the Great Britain team at Olympic Games in Seoul in 1988 when he was 21.

Mr Morris was presented with the award by Malcolm Morley, chairman of the British Wrestling Association. He said: “I am surprised and delighted to have received this award. I have put a lot of time in over the years. I did it because I love it, not for recognition, but it is nice to be appreciated.”