Athletics and sport send tributes to Sir Roger Bannister, who has died at the age of 88

Lord Coe led the tributes after Sir Roger Bannister, the first man to run a sub-four minute mile, died at the age of 88.

Bannister, who achieved the feat by running 3:59.4 at Oxford's Iffley Road stadium in May 1954 - in what turned out to be his final year in athletics - died on Saturday surrounded by his family.

The Commonwealth Games and European Championships gold medallist went on to have a successful career as a neurosurgeon, but only after paving the way for some of Britain's great middle-distance runners.

Lord Coe was one of those, breaking the mile record on three separate occasions in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the last of those seeing him cover the distance in 3:47.33.

Coe, who is now president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) said: "This is a day of intense sadness both for our nation and for all of us in athletics.

"There is not a single athlete of my generation who was not inspired by Roger and his achievements both on and off the track."

Former Great Britain sprinter Darren Campbell told Sky Sports News: "He was an inspiration for anybody of my age, especially anyone wanting to get involved with athletics.

"Anyone who wanted to understand the meaning of the sport, just going out there giving your best, but having no limits and never giving up, when people tell you something is not possible, that's Sir Roger Bannister to me."

UK Sport chair and Olympic gold medallist Dame Katherine Grainger hailed the life of a man who "set the standard for British sport on the world stage".

She said: "This is a very sad day but it gives us the opportunity to reflect on a great life.

"Sir Roger will always be remembered as a man who set the standard for British sport on the world stage. In the few times I was lucky enough to meet him, Sir Roger was incredibly modest about his own extraordinary sporting performances but always generous to others and those that came after him.

"He went on to achieve great things in his career after athletics, especially as an eminent and renowned doctor. I know I speak for the whole of UK Olympic and Paralympic sports in paying great tribute to him, thanking him for his inspiration and sending our thoughts and best wishes to his family."