FORMER cricket umpire Dickie Bird has donated a huge £30,000 to a fund which supports children and adults with heart disease in Yorkshire.

Generous Dickie, 84, will also become an ambassador for the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund works alongside the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit at Leeds General Infirmary, and is funded by donations.

Dickie said seeing poorly children on the ward caused him heartache.

He said: “I have never married because of my profession, I’ve lived out of a suitcase all of my life and the one thing I miss in my life is having a family.

“I want to give what is left of my life to the little children. My sister and my niece will be looked after when anything happens to me, but there is something about the little babies that’s got to my heart.

“When I see them on the ward, it brings a tear to my eye and a lump to my throat. It’s very sad.”

Sharon Coyle, chief executive of the fund, said: “We’re beyond thrilled that Dickie Bird, a true Yorkshireman and sporting icon, is becoming our ambassador. Dickie visited the children’s cardiac ward earlier in the year, and his heartfelt engagement with young patients and their families was inspiring to see - it gave them a huge boost.

“His generous donation, and influence in our region as ambassador, will be felt by generations to come in our continued mission to support hearts for life.”

Dickie has already donated £30,000 to Great Ormond Street Hospital and £70,000 to the Tiny Hearts Appeal at Barnsley Hospital. He is hoping to make another donation to Tiny Hearts.