A MECHANIC who was well-known in the worlds of speedway and karting, Len Smart has died aged 79.

Born in Poole and a lifelong resident, he did his apprenticeship as a car mechanic at English's before joining the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) for his National Service between 1957 and 1959.

During his two years he was posted overseas to Malaya, but not before his marriage to Jean in December 1957.

He returned to work for English's for many years, working on and managing the repair of heavy goods vehicles, before returning to REME as a civilian when the firm closed down.

His skill and knowledge was recognised by the management and he was soon set to running the tank repair workshop.

Mr Smart, alongside his long term best friend Len Bunter, with whom he had worked at English's, began attending speedway at Poole Stadium at its very first meeting.

He took his children along to watch and soon all four - Paul, Jamie, David and Mandy - had adopted his enthusiasm for motor sports.

Mr Smart and Mr Bunter worked as pit crew for the former's son Jamie when he became a speedway rider, and later worked on the cars of his other sons Paul and David when they took up rally driving.

He travelled to events up and down the country in support of his sons and their friends.

Mr Smart made many friends through speedway, and could always be found sitting in the same spot at the stadium.

He spent much of his free time at work in a workshop at the bottom of the garden of the family home in Sark Road, repairing rally cars and those of family, friends and neighbours.

Some 14 years ago, Jamie Smart and his son Scott took up go karting at Forest Edge Kart Club, near Andover, and Mr Smart resumed his duties on their pit crew.

However, he eventually became a race marshal, working his way up to chief marshal at Forest Edge, and ultimately winning Marshal of the Year 2012 at the British Motorsports Marshals Club.

He died in hospital on July 17 after sustaining head injuries in an accident at Forest Edge on July 5. In tribute, the club raced with a special livery last weekend.

Mr Smart loved dogs and for many years volunteered for the Friends of Wessex Assisting Dogs as a fundraiser and organiser, as well as doting on the family's rescue dogs Saffie and Alfie.

He leaves his wife and children, grandchildren Nigel, Jenny, Vanessa, Scott, Aaron, Daniel and Jake and great-grandchildren Kieran, Emma-Louise and Millie.