Five-time world darts champion Eric Bristow has died aged 60 following a heart attack, the Professional Darts Corporation have announced.

A statement read: “The professional Darts Corporation is deeply saddened to announce that five-time World Champion Eric Bristow MBE passed away on Thursday evening following a heart attack.

“Arguably the sport’s first superstar player, Bristow, 60, was World Champion five times between 1980-1986 and also won five World Masters titles during an outstanding career.”

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Just 10 minutes after he had finished playing a darts exhibition at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, he collapsed and Paramedics were not able to save him.

Dennis Priestley, who won the 1991 Embassy World Championship after beating Bristow 6-0 in the final, was scheduled to appear with the biggest name in darts in a Macmillan Nurses charity event in Sheerness at the weekend, and paid tribute to the ‘Crafty Cockney’.

Priestley told BBC 5 live Sport: “I probably caught him on the way down from his very best playing days, but just to play the man in a world final, the credit it gave myself, beating a legend like that, was fantastic.

“Eric dominated virtually all the 1980s – he was that good. And he told people he was that good. And that was one of the weapons he would use – they were frightened to death to play him.

“He would tell them what he would do to them and nine times out of ten, he backed it up.

“Darts became what it was in the 80s because of Eric Bristow. He was the face of darts and still was a big noise until this tragic thing that has happened.”

Tributes poured in on social media, with top promoter Barry Hearn writing on Twitter: “Sad news… A maverick a legend and one of the main reasons Darts is loved by so many people. We shall not see his like again. RIP Eric”.

Hearn added: “The word legend is often overused, but it’s an understatement for Eric Bristow. He will always be a legend in the world of darts and British sport.

“He was a tremendous player and a huge character and even after his retirement fans would travel for miles to meet him and see him play.

“Eric was never afraid of controversy, but he spoke as he found and was honest and straightforward which is what people admired about him. The PDC, and the sport of darts, will miss him.”

Raymond van Barneveld tweeted: “Eric Bristow died tonight…. I am lost for words and really devastated !! He was darts he meant so much to me, cannot believe it !! My thoughts go out to his wife and family”.

Bristow also won five World Masters titles and four World Cup Singles titles. He was one of the founder players when the PDC was formed in 1993 and was inducted into the PDC Hall of Fame 12 years later. He was awarded an MBE for services to sport in 1989.

Born in east London, Bristow later relocated to Staffordshire where he mentored and sponsored Phil Taylor, who went on to win the World Championship 16 times.

Ironically, Bristow was defeated by Taylor in the 1990 World Championship final.