A FAMILY has paid tribute to a man whose death has provided hope for several young people.

Andy Wardle died after a mountain biking accident in which he suffered head injuries.

But his family decided his death should not be in vain and allowed some of his organs to be used for transplants.

His brother Mr John Wardle, of Farnworth, said it was a difficult decision to make, but the family were pleased that a 15-year old and a 16-year-old in the Greater Manchester area, plus two young people in another part of the country, had benefited.

Andy, aged 41, had been biking with his younger brother Alex and four friends when the accident happened at a place called Table Top in Stoneclough.

Mr Wardle said: "They had been on a nature trail route through Kearsley.

"Table Top is a very steep drop and Andy came down at speed. It appears his bike bounced at the bottom and he smashed into a tree.

"He suffered very bad head injuries. He was not wearing a helmet but we were told at the hospital that it would not have mattered even if he had been."

Alex cleared Andy's airways and paramedics arrived within minutes.

Andy was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital and transferred to Hope Hospital, in Salford, where despite three operations, he died on Easter Monday. Mr Wardle paid tribute to his brother whom he said was "full of life". "He was one of eight children. He lived for his bikes, he always had motorbikes."

And Andy's popularity was borne out at his funeral at St Saviour's at Ringley, which was attended by several hundred people.

"There were Hell's Angels there and the old people who knew him. It made our mother very proud.

"He will always be remembered for riding on his bike with his red hair flying."

To reflect Andy's outdoor life, his mother Joan chose a green coloured coffin painted with ivy leaves.

"And we had some gold flowers to reflect the colour of his hair," said Mr Wardle.

Andy was well known in the Kearsley area where he lived and was often seen out with his dog Spuds.

"He had a heart of gold.

"We would like to think that if anyone got his heart, they will be running around like crazy somewhere.

"He was always on the go -- he took part in an Iron Man contest to raise funds for Nathan Howarth and won it," said Mr Wardle.

He praised the staff at the hospital: "They were fantastic and they could not do enough.

"That is why we want to tell Andy's story because we know they are desperate for donors.

"It is a comfort to us to know that something good has come from his death."