SOUTHAMPTON weightlifting legend Terry Morris has died at the age of 74.

A former British heavyweight champion of the 1950s and '60s, "Big Mo" as he was affectionately known, put the sport on the local map 35 years ago when he opened the Terry Morris Weightlifting Club in the

garden of his Bedford Place home.

Terry Jex, a British, European and World record holder, is one of a string of strongmen to have rolled off the Terry Morris conveyor belt and.

He recalled: "Big Mo trained thousands of people over the years. In his hey-day he was a big, strapping 20-stone guy and he carried on lifting until he was close to 60.

"The gym's just a massive shed in the garden, an old-fashioned sort of sports place.

"Although he was such a big guy, Mo was a very quiet man but he was known everywhere he competed for his famous cow pies.

"They were these huge home-made steak and kidney pies that he used to take along for everyone."

Several athletes have made use of the gym, quietly tucked away in Carlton Road, including British 400 metres record-holder Iwan Thomas and local shot-putters Dave Callaway and Gary Sollitt.

However, it was weightlifting that was Big Mo's first love.

"Terry was a British record-holder for the dead lift and trained most of us as well," said Jex. "Over the years he produced 15 British weightlifting champions plus several European and World champions.

"He will be fondly remembered by many people in the city, but his club will not be closing. It will carry on without him."

The funeral is likely to be this Monday, but details are still being finalised.