A charity darts night due to feature five-times world champion Eric Bristow will still go ahead this weekend.

The 60-year-old, whose dad used to live in Sheerness on the Isle of Sheppey, died suddenly yesterday after suffering a heart attack at Liverpool’s Echo Arena.

The Crafty Cockney was set to appear on the island at a ‘Let’s Play Darts for Macmillan’ fundraiser at Sheerness East Working Men’s Club on Saturday evening.

Organiser Tony Cox, who had known Bristow for a number of years, said the event will still go ahead.

"We are going to do it as a tribute to Eric," Mr Cox, of Invicta Road, Sheerness, said.

"World champions John Lowe and Dennis Priestley are still coming down and they want to do it as a tribute to him - they will now take on 15 players each instead of 10.

"Eric has links with the island through his father - it is terrible news."

Eric's father, George, lived in Acorn Street, Sheerness.

Mr Cox - who used to score for Eric when he was playing - added: "George didn't drive so when Eric was playing in a tournament that wasn't too far away, I would take his dad to see him play.

"When George died last year, Eric came down for the funeral and we had the wake at the Abbey Hotel.

"Eric was an entertainer and a great sportsman - he said what he thought which upset one or two people but that was why they loved him.

"A lot of people will be saddened and absolutely gutted. The sport of darts owes so much to him because he was the first really big player.

"It is a really sad loss. He loved the island; he liked the people and he had many friends here."

The ‘Let’s Play Darts for Macmillan’ fundraiser at Sheerness East Working Men’s Club runs from 5.30pm tomorrow.

Tickets have sold out but to check for returns call Mr Cox on 07747 676676.