Tributes have been paid to bodybuilder and former Mr Britain Adrian Heryet who has died aged 70.

Mr Heryet, originally from Worthing, was crowned Mr Britain in 1961 and was a runnerup in the Mr Universe contest four years in a row from 1961 to 1964.

Mr Heryet attended West Tarring Boys School in Worthing but his shy nature meant he avoided competitive sport whenever possible.

At 15 he began work installing TV aerials and eventually moved to Canada where he worked in a gold mine.

He returned to Sussex aged 20 and took up weight training. It took him just two years to become Mr Britain.

His trainer Derek Manthorpe said the transformation was incredible. He said most people would take ten years to achieve a similar physique, yet he took up the sport at a time before steroids became available and never used them during his career.

His first competition was in Southampton in 1959 when he took seventh place. By 1961 he was at the height of his success and was a familiar figure on Brighton beach where he worked as a lifeguard.

He moved from Sussex to Milton Keynes 30 years ago where he lived with his second wife Pamela, 49.

Mr Heryet had liver and lung cancer diagnosed. He died on August 5.

His funeral will take place at Durrington Cemetery in Worthing tomorrow at 1pm.

His eldest son Stephen said: “We are expecting lots of family members but there are lots of other people who knew him who are welcome too.”

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