A popular village barber has died aged 59.

Smith Gill, who lived in Riddlesden, worked opposite Haworth Railway Station for 17 years, but was a barber in Haworth for a total of 25 years.

He died in Airedale Hospital on Sunday.

Before he died he asked for his ashes to be scattered at his favourite holiday destination — Benidorm. His Haworth premises, called Just Gents’, was next door to New Waves hairdressers, which is run by his wife, Ann. Mrs Gill said: “He just loved working there and he even used to go in on bank holidays.

“He had such personality and so many people knew him.

“People who’d moved away to places like Australia and New Zealand used to drop in and see him whenever they came back. “He was six foot five and he was like a friendly giant. He never bore a grudge against anyone and he adored his family.”

She added that he had been diagnosed with leukaemia after visiting his doctor last October and continued to work part-time even after going through chemotherapy.

Mr Gill was born in Keighley and was initially a moulder at Jonas Wells foundry. After he was made redundant he retrained as a barber and went into partnership with his wife.

The couple were married for 33 years. As well as his wife, Mr Gill also leaves his two daughters, Shelley, 21, and Holly, 19.

His funeral service takes place at St Mary’s Church, in Riddlesden, on Monday, at 10.30am.

It will be followed by a cremation at Nab Wood Crematorium, Nab Wood.