Tributes have been paid to a "gentle giant" Workington Town fan, darts player and DJ who has died aged 47.

Dad-of-three Shaun Weaver, of Needham Drive, Workington, died on Tuesday after a short illness at the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle.

Godson Ben Nicholson said Mr Weaver's family had been touched by the outpourings of love and support from friends, fans of rugby teams across the country and darts stars Keith Deller and Chris Mason.

Mr Weaver was an avid Town fan, attending every home game and many away trips, and also supported Super League side St Helens.

He will make one final trip to Derwent Park before his funeral on Friday, with the players set to give his coffin a guard of honour and the final hooter to be sounded as the cortège completes a lap of the pitch.

Ben said: "He followed Town all his life and his dad Billy used to coach for the club so he was a ball boy when he was young.

"He would go watch them through thick and thin."

A tribute from Town said: "Everyone at the club is saddened to hear of the passing of lifelong Town fan Shaun Weaver.

"We’d like to pass on our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends."

Mr Weaver was a former Salterbeck School pupil who had worked for security firm VPS and Thomas Armstrong.

As well as DJing in clubs and bars around West Cumbria, he also spent some time performing in Magaluf.

"The only way to describe him was just a gentle giant," Ben said.

"Everyone got on with him and there was never a cross word.

"The only time he'd get into an argument was to do with sports.

"He was a genuine, down-to-earth guy."

Darts was another massive part of Mr Weaver's life and he played for many teams including Workington Royal British Legion, while he was also a passionate fan of Liverpool FC.

Mr Weaver also spent a lot of time and made friends in Allonby, where his parents Lynn and Billy owned a caravan.

Ben added: "We used to go on nights out together and there would be so many people coming up to him throughout the night.

"Everyone knew him and he was massively popular.

"It's nice to see how many people loved and cared for him and he'd like that.

"He was always so positive and there to help people.

"All the tributes have been humbling."

A service for Mr Weaver will be held at Distington Crematorium at 2.45pm on Friday, December 15.

Family flowers only are requested but donations can be made to Help for Heroes or the Henderson Suite at West Cumberland Hospital.