Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood has paid tribute to Snooker player Alex Higgins, who died on Saturday (July 24).

Higgins – better known as the Hurricane – passed away after a long battle with throat cancer. He was 61.

Wood, who befriend Higgins in the 1980s, described him as a “terrific guy and a good friend”.

"Much of my love of snooker came from watching him - just magic,” he told The Sun newspaper.

"He was a brave and courageous player, as he was to prove in his last great fight against cancer. God bless our Alex."

Tributes have also been paid to Higgins from across the snooker world.

As previously reported, the Rolling Stones are understood to be finalising their last ever world tour.

(by Jason Gregory)