TRIBUTES have been paid to a cider maker and community champion from Little Leigh who has lost his battle with cancer.

Matthew Veasey, former chairman of Little Leigh Parish Council and founder and cider maker of Nooks Yard Cider, died just before Christmas.

His wife Louise said: "He was a lovely chap and a wonderful husband who gave freely of his time to help others and champion the causes he believed in.

"In this, as in everything else, he had a great balance between passion and reasoned argument.

"If something was wrong, he wanted to put it right, and if something was great, he had no hesitation in telling everyone all about it.

"He is hugely missed by myself and his family and, judging from the people who've contacted me, by all those who knew him."

Matthew was born in Somerset and moved to the north west in 1994.

He and Louise moved to Little Leigh 10 years ago and soon became immersed in community life, with Matthew joining the parish council in 2005.

He was chairman from 2006 to 2009 and resigned from the council in 2013.

Louise said: "He felt passionately about the importance of strong local communities, both in terms of the formal processes like parish councils and the importance of strong social links and people just 'looking out for each other'.

"I think he'd put this down to his rural Somerset roots – the best people to deal with things are those it affects , and in a village which is short on amenities, you just have to get on and sort it out between yourselves.

"And as for Little Leigh, everyone was so friendly when we moved here that even after a few months we felt like we'd always lived here"

The couple set up award-winning Nooks Yard Cider in 2010, making perry from local pears and cider from a mix of local fruit and traditional varieties from Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

Louise said: "I think he rated success not so much on the amount of cider sold but on making the best cider he could and in having 'real' cider accepted as the traditional, high quality drink it is – and showing that you didn't have to be in one of the traditional cider making areas to do it."

Matthew died aged 42, after a two-year fight with bladder cancer.

Louise said: "I've been overwhelmed by the messages of support from people from so many walks of life who knew him, and I'm deeply touched by that and would like to say thanks to everyone for their help and thoughts at this difficult time.

"I would also like to thank St Luke's in Winsford for looking after him so well at the end, and for all the support they have given to all his family."