ALEX 'Hurricane' Higgins rolled back the years to delight more than 300 fans at Perdiswell Lei-sure Centre last night.

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.

Higgins, an 11th hour re-placement after Jimmy White was taken ill, lost the en-counter 4-3 but his trademark style, including the doffing of his trilby on entering to a standing ovation, 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.

And Virgo, star of BBC's Big Break, was quick to recognise Alex's impact on the sport and said it was good to see him back potting some balls.

Higgins won the first two frames of a match occasionally spoiled by hecklers, making 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 in frame six.

And the former United Kingdom champion, always one to share a joke with the crowd, held his nerve to edge the decider.

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

But unfortunately there was no sign of his famous impressions routine wher mimics the game's top stars.