LEGENDARY York darts player Mick Smith has died at the age of 87.

He was Yorkshire champion on four occasions but his fort was the News of the World treble play, long before 1969 when the first treble board league was introduced in the city.

Mr Smith's last NoW visit to Alexandra Palace, in front of a 10,000 crowd saw him beaten in the 1964 semi-final by Tom Barrett.

Barrett, who went on to win the title, and retain it the following year, had to pull out 135, 40, 83, 171 then treble 12 double 18 for 14 darts to pip the York hero.

Evening Press darts correspondent, Dave Fotheringham, said: "Mick, with a 6ft 2inb build was always imposing and immaculately dressed in suit, white shirt and black tie. But above all he was a gentleman, on and off the och, who sported a comiserating after-game handshake.

"Mick hasn't, of course, thrown a dart for quite a few years, but when he did there was none better in the area.

"He would chalk his own och some 18 inches back from the normal local throw, which unintentionally tended to put many opponents off. How could anyone accurately throw from that far away?

"But if one was up against Mick Smith, his feared and skilful reputation was good enough to give him 100 start anyway."

Updated: 11:48 Saturday, November 24, 2001