Funeral date for horse rider

The funeral of a Shropshire man who died following a horse riding accident will take place next week.

Mike Slater, of Aston, near Market Drayton, was airlifted to hospital after he came off his horse during a hunt on February 2.

The 49-year-old died on February 6 from further complications. He had been on a legal trail with the North Staffordshire Hunt, of which he was a member, when the accident took place.

Mr Slater's funeral will take place at St Leonard's in Woore on Tuesday at 11am.

Afterwards his coffin will be carried by a horse-drawn hearse around Woore.

At the time of his death his wife Debbie said the family was struggling to come to terms with the loss.

"Mike was a wonderful human being, who touched the lives of so many people," she said.

"Mike's death is absolutely heartbreaking, but he would have wanted us to stay as positive as possible, to celebrate his life rather than mourn the loss.

"He always had a positive approach to life."

Mr Slater suffered a serious riding accident in 2003 while on a hunt, but made a full recovery, despite doctors warning he might die from severe internal injuries.

He ran Aston Manor Liveries with his wife. They held a fun day at the stables last year in aid of the County Air Ambulance, to thank the organisation for rescuing Mike after the 2003 accident.

Mr Slater came off his horse on Saturday at about 11.30am, while jumping a fence in Norton in Hales.

As well as wife Debbie, Mr Slater leaves a son, Richard, from his first marriage, his mother Beryl, brother Denis and sister Jane.