A well-known motor racing commentator - Norman Greenway - who became the 'voice of Snetterton Circuit' has died at the age of 87.Glowing tributes have been paid to the popular motoring journalist who spoke and wrote about his passion for motorsport for more than 40 years.

A well-known motor racing commentator - Norman Greenway - who became the 'voice of Snetterton Circuit' has died at the age of 87.

Glowing tributes have been paid to the popular motoring journalist who spoke and wrote about his passion for motorsport for more than 40 years.

Mr Greenway, who was a former BBC radio Formula 1 broadcaster and commentator at the Snetterton race track for 27 years, died at his home in Scole on March 21, following an eight year battle with cancer.

He leaves behind his wife of 46 years, Barbara, and their five children. He also leaves two sons from a previous marriage.

Motorsport commentating legend Murray Walker has also paid tribute to Mr Greenway who worked for BBC Radio 2 in the 1970s and 1980s and interviewed some of the legendary F1 drivers, including Jim Clark, Emerson Fittipaldi, Stirling Moss, Ayrton Senna, and Jackie Stewart.

He began commentating at Brands Hatch in 1966 and commentated on the very first Formula Ford race. He later became the 'voice of Snetterton' where he hung up his microphone in 1990.

Mr Greenway had been writing about motor racing up until his health took a turn for the worst in December.

His funeral will take place at the West Suffolk Crematorium at Bury St Edmunds at 3.45pm today . The 87-year-old's ashes are set to be scattered at the Brands Hatch circuit and discussions are already under way for a memorial trophy at Snetterton Circuit.

His daughter, Lee Baker, said: 'We are having a celebration of dad's life on Thursday. He was forever the joker so an April 1 funeral is quite apt. He was very well-known and so well liked. He was such a happy man and had a joke for every occasion.'

Murray Walker also spoke of his sadness at Mr Greenway's death.

'I enjoyed Norman's ebullient personality over the years and much enjoyed his commentaries at countless meetings,' he said.

Attleborough-based motorsport artist Andrew Kitson added: 'Norman was instrumental in shaping my early enthusiasm for the sport, his commentary providing such accurate details of everything that was happening before you. He loved his racing. He was such a knowledgeable avid enthusiast with incredible recall.'