Cambridge Evening News sports desk veteran David Hallett has retired after 43 years with the company.

More than 160 people, from all sports across the city, attended a tribute dinner to mark the occasion.

David, (left), joined the News in 1964 and covered several football and cricket world cups during his career and is best known for his coverage of cricket and rugby.

Among the guests were Dickie Jeeps, former British Lion, and huge Cambridge RUFC fan Jeffrey Archer.

A series of tributes were paid to David, including one from former England cricket captain Tony Lewis.

He said: "I did not understand how good a sports reporter David was until I myself took up his trade.

"I returned to Fenner's regularly and depended on him and sought a tutorial."

Director of Elite Rugby Rob Andrew said: "David has been a great servant to rugby and cricket in Cambridge. He is a very knowledgeable, trustworthy and diplomatic man and I wish him well."

Gavin Hastings, the former British Lion, added: "David was one of the old-school type of journalists who tried to get to know the type of people he was working with. He got to know the person first before trying to do the piece on him. That was the mark of the man.

"I've returned to Cambridge a number of times and always enjoyed seeing him. I hope his retirement is a long and happy one."

BBC Five live broadcaster Mark Saggers added: "David watched and reported on me as a sporstman in Cambridge. He instinctively knew the story and asked the questions in the right way.

"He mixed Town sport with gown, county with village and was also trusted. When Rob Andrew and Michael Atherton still ask about him, you know he did a great job. He is a true Cambridgeshire sportsman."

And Lord Archer added: "We at Cambridge RUFC will miss him because he has become a friend of the family, but we hope that, just because he has stopped writing about us, he won't stop turning up each week."

News sports editor Chris Gill said: "It's been a privilege to have shared some of David's journey through the years. We are missing him already. Some things, simply, will never be the same."