Staff at an Ipswich swimming pool have paid tribute to a grandfather-of-three who dedicated his life to helping heart patients in Suffolk.

Len Tate, from Brantham, was at the heart of a campaign to build a cardiac unit at Ipswich Hospital.

The 83-year-old, who was vice-chairman at Heartbeat East Suffolk, died earlier this month.

Heartbeat members were introduced to Fore Street Pool’s swimming sessions by Mr Tate.

The lessons helped them to keep fit and recuperate after heart operations.

Duty manager at the pool, Rob Bridgeman, said he and his colleagues were “devastated” to hear Mr Tate had died.

He said: “He was instrumental in organising swimming sessions for Heartbeat members, he was a very organised guy and before the sessions even started he secured the pool a new defibrillator and additional training on how to use it.

“Nothing was too much bother for Len, if he could help he would. He also had a great attitude to life and always seemed so upbeat, it is almost as if he had his own health scare and decided to never waste a second of his life.

“He was a great guy who will be sadly missed by us all at Fore Street.”