THE wife of a Gwent police officer who died after collapsing on a cricket pitch today paid tribute to his "wicked sense of humour".

Father-of-one PC Hywel Evans, 43, (pictured) died after collapsing during a Blackwood Town Seconds match against Rogerstone on Saturday.

The 6ft 5ins tall man had been captaining the Blackwood side which also contained his 15-year-old son Rhodri.

His wife Sandra, also a PC with Gwent Police, said: "Hywel was a stereotypical version of a people's 'bobby', he was unmistakeable due to his sheer height and size.

"His calm, reassuring, gentle manner and wicked sense of humour gained him much respect and many friends in the years he served the community of Gwent as a police officer.

"The hole he has left in our hearts is unfortunately as big as Hywel was in life."

PC Hywel Evans joined the force in 1981 and worked as uniform patrol officer at Maindee and Abertillery, but for most of his career he was a member of the Traffic Department, at Headquarters, Blackwood and Tredegar.

Whilst remaining a Traffic Officer, he was also a member of the Headquarters Police Support Unit, a firearms officer and trained as a VIP driver.

In April 1996 he received a Commendation for aiding in the resuscitation of a collapsed man at Caerphilly.