ALEX 'Hurricane' Higgins rolled back the years to delight more than 300 local snooker fans.

The 55-year-old, world champion in 1972 and 1982, showed he can still string the shots together during an exhibition match with John Virgo last Wednesday.

Higgins, an 11th hour replacement at Perdiswell leisure Centre after Jimmy White was taken ill, lost the encounter 4-3 but his trademark style, including the doffing of his trilby, was there for all to see.

The flamboyancy and flair of the hurricane may not be what it was but Higgins, who has battled with cancer, can still entertain.

Higgins won the first frame of the match and made a well-compiled 56 clearance in the second on his way to a 3-1 interval lead.

Virgo made a fight of it after the break and levelled the match, refereed by world final official Paul Collier, at 3-3 thanks to a well-timed 66 break.

And the former UK champion held his nerve to edge the decider.

Virgo, also a BBC commentator, then entertained an expectant crowd with a series of trickshots, calling on volunteers to help him out along the way.