A POPULAR policeman was called in to control a heavyweight confrontation on Saturday.

Acting sergeant Ian Fairweather, who is based at the College Street station and lives at Eccleston, was a touchjudge at the Leigh Centurions versus Dewsbury Rams NFP Grand Final at Bury.

"It was a great honour and a day I will never forget, and I hope it is the first of many big games for me," said 37-year-old Ian, who is married to Jane and a father of two.

"Running the line at Gigg Lane also kept the St Helens NFP tradition alive, because Steve Ganson had charge of last year's Dewsbury-Hunslet clash, and John Kinsella was touchjudge for the Wakefield-Featherstone game in 1998."

An old boy of West Park Grammar school, where he played Rugby Union, Ian joined the police in 1985 and also served at Newton-le-Willows and Prescot. He enrolled in the local referees society in 1990 and was secretary for two years.

A staunch Saints supporter when constabulary and flagging duties allow, Ian also takes the whistle in amateur games and keeps fit by pounding the highways and by-ways of St Helens.

And the friendly bobby's involvement in Rugby League is in line with the Fairweather sporting pedigree. For golf, cricket and table tennis buff dad Ray was a winger with Manchester City, Lincoln, Portsmouth, St Helens Town and Prescot Cables, while uncle Reg is no mean trundler in the local bowling league.

Sergeant Ian invites anyone interested in taking up the whistle of flag to attend the referees meeting at the Black Bull hotel on the first Monday of the month at 7.30pm. Alternatively telephone Mark Seddon on 01942 273295.