A SPECIAL day of sport was held in memory of a 'sports-mad' Furness boy at the weekend.

Hundreds of people turned up at Ulverston Sports Club and the Leisure Centre on Sunday to take part in a host of games and activities at an event dedicated to the late Joshua West.

The talented Swarthmoor FC goalkeeper died days before his 12th birthday after suffering an asthma attack in April last year.

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"The day was incredible," Cathy Burrows, event organiser and mum to Joshua’s best friend, Oliver, said. “The sun shone, the crowds came and we smashed it. Joshua would have loved it - and that was the whole point. We couldn’t have asked for a better day."

The event saw 16 teams of seven-a-side put through their paces in a series of sports from rugby and dodgeball to tennis and cricket, plus a host of activities, including an obstacle course and wang the welly, finishing with a tug of war.

“I’m a bit speechless to be honest - the whole day was fantastic and just what I aimed for - to bring together families and friends old and new, young and old to remember Joshua while having fun and of course raise money for The Joshua West Foundation," Cathy said. "A massive thank you must go to everyone involved in making it possible - particularly Ulverston Leisure Centre who hosted the football, tennis and dodgeball challenges and provided equipment for the activities."

Joshua’s family were a key part of the day, with his mum Nicola and younger brother Billy both entering teams and his dad Lee acting as the football referee.

Nicola said: “Joshua loved life and loved having fun and a laugh with his family and friends and was sports mad. Today was about everyone joining together to take a leaf out of his book. To see so many people here for Joshua is just fantastic and we can’t thank people enough.”

Winners of the team events were Team Fairweather - a group of 11-year-old boys from Allithwaite.

Sarah Fairweather, the team captain's mother, said: “Our boys had the best day - even before they won. There was great sportsmanship and every activity ran like clockwork. Even though myself and my boys didn’t know Joshua we were made to feel part of the community."