The distraught wife of a former rugby player paid a heartfelt tribute to her soulmate.

Peter Dawson, 48, of Workington, died suddenly on Friday.

He leaves wife Val, 52, sons Gary Hoban, 28, and Kevin Hoban, 26, and granddaughters Leigha, nine, Zoe, eight, and Mia, four.

Val said: "He idolised me and he was absolutely in love with his granddaughters. I've never seen so much love for three girls.

"Leigha was so special to him. They did everything together.

"He took them swimming, played on the trampoline and constantly played jokes on them, he was terrible for it.

"It's unbelievable that he's gone, it's like he's at work and he's going to come back."

Val said her husband's biggest passion was rugby and he played for many teams over the years.

He spent at least 15 years playing with Great Clifton Lions, but he also played for Flimby and Ellenborough.

He came out of retirement when Ellenborough Rangers was struggling to field an open team and has also sponsored the Ellenborough man of the match for some years.

Val said he loved watching his son Kevin play for Ellenborough Rangers, who held a two-minute silence at their match on Wednesday.

She said: "He was so proud of Kevin whenever he scored. Gary played when he was younger too and Peter was proud of him for giving him the girls.

"Peter didn't play anymore because he had a bad knee, but he would have loved to be able to play."

Craig Barker, Kevin's coach and a long-time friend of Mr Dawson, said he was "gritty and tough on the field, but a likeable man - one of the guys - when the match was finished".

He added: "He wanted to do right by everyone and will be much missed in Maryport and throughout West Cumbria."

During six years involvement with the Maryport club he became well-known and well-liked throughout the community, Mr Barker said.

Rugby clubs from across West Cumbria took to social media to pay tribute to Mr Dawson, of Curwendale, Stainburn.

Great Clifton Lions tweeted: "RIP Peter Dawson, a great player and an even greater bloke. We at Clifton send our hearts out to your wife and family. Love always."

Distington Amateur Rugby League Club tweeted: "All the club would like to send our deepest sympathy and condolences to the family and friends of Peter Dawson, also to the players and staff of Great Clifton Lions who played alongside Peter over the years.

"The Rugby League family is unique in its respect for fellow players and we understand the sadness this will have left with so many people. Losing a character who was so liked by so many must be hard to come to terms with and our thoughts are with you all."

Mr Dawson, who was a was a construction worker contracting for Sellafield, married Val eight years ago but the couple has been together for 25 years.

Val said: "For the wedding he planned everything himself down to the bridesmaids dresses. He was determined I was going to marry him.

"We loved going on holiday together. We had at least three holidays every year, the last one we did was two weeks in Thailand and in January we went on a cruise. We did so many cruises over the years.

"We've been all over the world and we also loved fell walking. We were daredevils when it came to walking - Sharp Edge, Swirral Edge, we did them all.

"We also liked to sing. We spent many nights getting drunk and singing together. Peter took some videos and put them on Facebook and one of them had over 3,500 views.

"He was so funny. He loved to joke.

"He had so many friends. We've been inundated with beautiful messages, cards and flowers."

Val said her husband was very caring.

She said: "He always used to make me a cup of tea, he did the garden, all the cleaning and was always washing his car.

"He always used to buy me surprises.

"He was my rock and my world. I don't know how I'm going to go without him."

The coroner has been informed and a date for Mr Dawson's funeral is still to be set.