A HIGHLY respected dancer and actor from Huddersfield has died suddenly.

Andrew Spencer, 33, died at the family home he shared with his parents, Ray and Lesley, in Waterloo on Sunday morning.

An inquest opened at Bradford Coroners’ Court yesterday and was adjourned for further medical tests.

There are no suspicious circumstances.

Mr Spencer was the nephew of well-known Huddersfield dance teacher Audrey Spencer and was a dance professional for many years.

He was the UK National Tap Dance Champion in his teens and went on to work as a professional dancer, often on cruise ships in the Caribbean. Recurrent injury problems made him hang up the dancing shoes and he turned to amateur operatics.

He was a member of Huddersfield Light Opera Company and was renowned for his comic roles. He also helped out many other operatic societies, including Lindley.

Mr Spencer was educated at Dalton Junior School and then Rawthorpe High.

In his younger days he played rugby league for the Fartown Academy side and Moldgreen.

His father, Ray, said: “We are very proud of Andrew and all he achieved. He was my son, yet we were more like mates and we will miss him so much.’’