A keen amateur sportsman described as the "life and soul" died on Boxing Day after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Matthew Scott, who grew up in East Malling and was well known in football and cricket circles, lived with the diagnosis for more than a year.

The 43-year-old was married to wife Tracy and father to 18-year-old twins Tom and Oliver.

Brother Neil Scott, who like his sibling attended the former Clare Park secondary school in East Malling, paid tribute to Mr Scott's outgoing character and said he was grateful for the time they were able to spend together towards the end.

"We were able to have another 14 months with him being fit, well and healthy, and we managed to go for days out for his birthday," he said.

"He was the life and soul. If he was in the pub he was the sort of person people would want to be around. He just got on with it.

"Whatever situation he was in he would be making people laugh. He always put everyone else first."

Mr Scott - known to many as Matty - played football for the successful Town Malling football club and Sunday league outfit East Malling, while switching to cricket in the summer months when he would turn out for Addington Cricket Club.

A familiar face at the Rising Sun pub, Mr Scott owned a roofing company and later moved to Ditton after previously living in East Malling since childhood.

Friend Lisa Tolley - who describes Mr Scott as "a true East Malling legend" - is running two miles a day in January to raise money for Brain Tumour Research in his memory.

So far almost £10,000 has been donated.

Covid-19 restrictions mean funeral plans may be smaller than would be liked, but the family say there will be golf days and football matches organised once social distancing rules are relaxed.

To donate to the fundraiser for Brain Tumour Research, click here

Read more: All the latest news from Malling