Family members have paid tribute to Frank Wharton, a former footballer and soldier with the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.

Born in 1920 to Frederick and Gertrude Wharton, of New Cross Road, Headington Quarry, Mr Wharton was one of five children, along with Wynifred, Alfred, Charles, Joan and Hubert.

As a young man, he played for Headington United - now Oxford United - before joining the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry at the start of the Second World War.

He was wounded in May, 1940 in Boulogne, France, then captured and held in a German prisoner of war camp for five years.

On his release, he returned to Oxford, where he met his future wife Elsie at a dance at the Holyoake Hall, in Headington.

The couple married in 1950 and went on to have five children - Jean, now deceased, Harry, Sheila, Keith and Nigel.

They had 14 grandchildren and great grandchildren and celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 2000.

In his spare time, Mr Wharton enjoyed gardening and ran bingo nights with his wife at Headington Quarry village hall.

His niece, Linda Wharton, said: "He was a real family man. He always had time for us and for all the children and he was a very good husband to my aunty.

"He will be sadly missed."

He died on Saturday. Details of the funeral have not been finalised.