A RETIRED Keighley journalist who covered major stories such as the Yorkshire Ripper murders and the Bradford City stadium fire has died aged 85.

Trevor Atkins, who lived in Riddlesden and began working for the Keighley News in 1949, died in Airedale Hospital on November 10. He had been a journalist for 41 years.

He leaves his wife Barbara, two sons Stephen and Graham, and a grand daughter, Amy.

His family have said that a copy of the Keighley News, Telegraph & Argus and Yorkshire Post will be placed in his coffin, as he worked for all of these papers during his career.

Graham Atkins, who lives in Exley Head, said: "He was very hard working and caring. He always put other people first and he really did not have a bad word to say about anyone. He wouldn't judge people."

Trevor Atkins was born in Keighley and attended Keighley Boys' Grammar School.

He completed his National Service as a clerical worker with the Royal Air Force. He was an enthusiastic cyclist and would even cycle from his RAF base in Buxton, Derbyshire, to Keighley and back during weekends.

It was while he with the RAF that he learned to type.

Following his stint at the Keighley News he helped launch a new weekly paper in Shipley in 1963. After a spell with the Telegraph & Argus based in its Bingley office he joined the Yorkshire Post, retiring from that paper in 1990.

Among the events he also covered during his time as a reporter were the crimes committed by notorious armed robber, kidnapper and murderer Donald Neilson – who was dubbed the Black Panther.

Mr Atkins served as president of both Keighley and Bradford branches of the National Union of Journalists, and was a keen organist and hiker.

He also volunteered his time for a patients' information group at Airedale Hospital, was editor of the house magazine at Manorlands Hospice, and was secretary of the Master Bakers Association.

He was a friend of the Settle to Carlisle line and survived the traumatic 1995 Ais Gill rail accident on this railway, when a landslide caused a train derailment and collision, resulting in the death of a conductor and many injuries to passengers.

Mr Atkins ended up in hospital for five days with broken ribs.

He met his future wife, Barbara Rickerby, in 1949 while working at the Keighley News in North Street. She was then employed as a mender at a business called Tanfield on the opposite side of the street.

The couple were married at Keighley Parish Church in 1956.

Mr Atkins' funeral service will take place on Thursday next week (November 23) at The Knowle Chapel of Rest, Keighley, at 1.30pm, followed by a private family cremation.

His family have asked for flowers only, and donations may be made in lieu of flowers to Manorlands Hospice and the RNLI.