TRIBUTES have poured in for well-known DJ and radio presenter Ron Travolta after he died from a heart attack in the early hours of yesterday morning.

The popular 55-year-old, whose real name was Ron Inglis, had been a familiar face in the town’s club and music scene, as well as the regular voice of the breakfast show on community radio station Swindon 105.5fm.

The father-of-two had been set to marry station manager Shirley Ludford in November and the pair spoke just hours before he died at 3.30am at Great Western Hospital .

Shirley said Ron, who would have been 56 today, had been at a gig in Bristol and called her before making his way home.

But at about 1.45am he called again to say he was having a heart attack.

She went with his son Chris, 17, to Great Western Hospital where a crash team tried to resuscitate him for nearly 40 minutes.

Shirley said: “He called me after his gig in Bristol and we had a long conversation about the invitations to the wedding, which we were going to send out yesterday.

“We were talking about how much fun the day was going to be and how we were looking forward to it. He went to his home in Salisbury Street.

“But then at about 1.45am he called and said he was in the middle of a heart attack – he had them before and knew what was happening. “I phoned for an ambulance and they said they were on their way so I got into the car and went to the hospital.

“We arrived just before the ambulance did and when it got there we found he had stopped breathing, though his heart was still going. “Credit to the team, they spent a long time on him, trying to get him to breathe on his own.”

Shirley yesterday led the tributes to him, as a host of people from across the town mourned the loss of what they called a ‘Swindon legend’.

“He was just larger than life,” Shirley said. “He was very passionate and dedicated to what he did – if he said he would do something he would always do it right. I think he tried to hide it but he was a big softie inside.

“I didn’t think I would marry again but I think trust is a very important thing and Ron was also a friend. He would always make me laugh.

“It would have been his birthday today too and I had bought him a Manchester City shirt with Ron and number one on the back – he was mad about them. It’s sad he will never see it now.

“He will be sorely missed by everyone.”

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson also paid tribute to Ron, who had performed at his wedding earlier this year.

He said: “He was a real character, full of life with a bucket load of cheek. He was someone who would brighten up people’s lives and was a true Swindon legend.”

Funeral arrangements have yet to be made.