Nat Lofthouse, the Lion of Vienna and one of England's greatest players with 30 goals from just 33 appearances, has died at the age of 85.

Lofthouse died peacefully in his sleep at his Bolton nursing homeon Saturday night.

"Nat undoubtedly is a Bolton Wanderers legend. He was a one-club man and our football club meant as much to him as he did to us," said the Bolton chairman Phil Gartside.

"We will miss him but we will celebrate his life, his legacy and great times that he brought to Bolton Wanderers."

Lofthouse made all his appearances for the Three Lions between 1950 and 1958, boasting one of the greatest goals-to-games ratio of any international player.

He spent his entire club career at his hometown club Bolton Wanderers, scoring 255 times in 452 senior appearances between 1946 and 1960.

His record would have been even greater were it not for the Second World War: he made his Trotters debut in March 1941, scoring twice in a 5-1 win over Bury, but was not able to make his competitive bow until the resumption of the Football League in 1946.

He scored two goals on his international debut as the Three Lions drew 2-2 with Yugoslavia at Highbury in 1950.

His Lion of Vienna nickname came after a famous goal in a 3-2 England win over Austria in May 1952.

His second goal came despite being elbowed in the face, tackled from behind and poleaxed by the home keeper in the build-up.

He was awarded an OBE in the New Year's Honours in 1994, and a stand at Bolton's Reebok Stadium is named after him.