Bobby Robson floral tributes composted for charity

LONDON (Reuters) - Thousands of bouquets laid at Newcastle United's St James' Park Stadium after the death of the former England soccer manager Bobby Robson have been turned into garden compost and will be sold to raise money for charity.

Proceeds from the compost, costing 10 pounds a bag, will go to the Bobby Robson Foundation.

Robson, who died of cancer in July aged 76, managed Newcastle from 1999 to 2004.

"The flowers were laid with huge respect and affection for Sir Bobby and we didn't want to see them go to waste," Julie Clay, a local florist who thought of the idea, told the BBC, adding that 80 bags had already been sold.

Earlier this week the Royal Mint announced commemorative medals would be struck in memory of Robson, an honour normally reserved for royalty.

He was appointed England manager in 1982 and ended his eight-year reign by leading what many believed to be the best England side since 1966 to the World Cup semi-finals where they lost to West Germany on penalties.

(Reporting by Martyn Herman; editing by Andrew Dobbie)