Tributes pour in for veteran BBC radio presenter

Andy Ball worked for BBC Radio Merseyside for almost three decades

Tributes are being paid to a veteran BBC radio presenter who has died after an illness.

Andy Ball, from Wallasey in Wirral, was a presenter, reporter and part of BBC Radio Merseyside's management team for nearly 30 years.

The station said: "We're sad to have to tell you that our friend and colleague Andy Ball has passed away."

In a statement, it said staff would miss the 62-year-old "dearly" and sent its "love and condolences to his wife Lynn and family".

"Andy worked for BBC Merseyside for nearly 30 years as a presenter, reporter and part of the management team," the station said.

"He loved the river and enjoyed nothing more than getting out into the communities right across the whole of Merseyside.

"We will miss him dearly and send all our love and condolences to his wife Lynn and family."

Andy Ball loved the River Mersey and getting out and meeting listeners, his colleagues said

Former station editor Andrew Bowman worked with Ball - who had recently taken early retirement - for about five years.

He said: "He was so generous with his time – and that is a characteristic that remained, he just always had an ability to be available to help people.

Mr Bowman said he was a "brilliant ambassador for the radio station" who shone at outside broadcasts such as the Southport and Tatton Flower Shows.

"He really loved these shows and getting out and about on outside broadcasts in general as it was a great way to meet Radio Merseyside listeners face to face," he added.

Mr Bowman also said the presenter had always been "phenomenally supportive" of his colleagues.

"He'll be greatly missed by everyone connected with BBC Radio Merseyside," he added.

Executive producer Steve Coleman said he was a "very talented amazing man" and "a good friend" who will be "incredibly missed by those who knew him".

Stuart Wood, a friend and former colleague, said it was "very, very sad that such a tremendously smiley bloke should have been snatched away from us so early".

He said Ball was "always fun and such a nice man" and it was a "great loss".

'A gentleman'

Andrea Day, who also worked alongside Ball, said he was "always so generous with his time and patience with everyone".

"He truly loved Liverpool, the station and all the people in it," she said.

Former BBC News online reporter Greg O'Keeffe described him as a "gentleman".

"I was struck by how friendly and welcoming Andy was to people.

"It was clear to see the respect and affection his colleagues had for him, and he seemed to have time and a chat for everyone."

Andrew Brown, of community news site Stand Up For Southport, said: "He was fantastic company.

"So invested in the local community right across Merseyside, a real people person."