TRIBUTES have been paid to an 'outstanding' former Warrington police officer who died in a road accident on Monday evening.

PC Tony Heaton was based at Warrington Police Station for nearly a decade, where he worked as a patrol officer and a car crime officer and picked up a Chief Constable's Commendation for his work.

The 38-year-old died on Chester Road in Northwich at 6.45pm on Monday when his red Triumph motorbike failed to negotiate a sweeping bend and left the road.

He was off duty at the time of the incident.

Chief Constable Peter Constable Peter Fahy said: "Tony Heaton was an outstanding and dedicated officer. For him, policing was about making sure that people who committed crime were stopped and dealt with at the first opportunity. He was a forthright, committed and engaging officer and our hearts go out to his family at this time of bereavement."

PC Heaton joined the force in 1992 having served as a lance corporal in the Royal Engineers. He received his commendation in 1998 after arresting more than 400 offenders using the road to commit crime in an 18-month period.

The keen rugby player and sportsman moved to Cheshire police headquarters in Winsford in 2002.

PC Heaton leaves a wife and two children. A statement from his family said: "He was a truly supportive husband to Pam and devoted dad to his children Jessica and Max. He will be a sadly missed, fun-loving guy."

If you would like to leave a tribute to the officer, log on to warringtonguardian.co.uk

hcartwright@guardiangrp.co.uk