Renowned Sussex dairy farmer Tom Carr has died at the age of 82.

Father of four Mr Carr died suddenly at home on Friday after a long and successful career.

Mr Carr, of Coombe Farm, Saltdean, was born into farming at Springbarn Farm, Lewes.

He was educated at Lewes Grammar School and Plumpton Agricultural College.

He began his farming career on the family farm and in 1947 took over the tenancy of a smallholding at Holdings Farm, Kingston.

In 1955 he moved to Coombe Farm, Saltdean, where he dedicated his career to his first love of breeding black and white cattle.

In the Fifties, he was one of the early pioneers of using Canadian bloodlines.

Mr Carr's son David said: "These policies started to be accepted in the late Seventies. Today virtually all breeding is on these lines.

"There were many successes at shows, including the South of England Show and the Royal Show. Breeding stock was sold throughout the UK and worldwide."

Mr Carr was well known throughout Sussex and was a respected judge at many shows.

He worked for the Milk Marketing Board as a panel member helping to select bulls in the UK and Canada from 1971 to 1988.

He also served on the British Friesian Council, becoming its president in 1994.

Mr Carr foresaw the decline in farming incomes as early as the mid-Eighties and decided to sell milk direct to the consumer via Coombe Farm Dairies. His herd of 260 cows supplies 9,000 homes in Brighton and Hove.

Mr Carr was also a keen sportsman. He first played for Lewes Football Club in 1939, went on to become its chairman and was club president at the time of his death.

He was also a vice-president of Chiddingly Cricket Club.

He married Gwen in 1949 and the couple had four children, Marian, David, Sally and Michael, and nine grandchildren.

He was vice-president of Ringmer and Lewes Young Farmers' Club and the East Sussex County Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs.

David said: "My father was not afraid to try new ideas. He was very highly respected in the cattle breeding and football worlds."

There will be a private family funeral followed by a thanksgiving service on a date to be announced.