Legendary Bradford referee Eddie Kalinowski has died aged 81.

The football-mad official was a whistler in the local leagues for an incredible 48 seasons.

Polish-born, Eddie was moved through Germany into Holland in 1939, working as a labourer, before being smuggled to England by the Dutch underground.

Originally based in Scotland, where he joined the Polish Army, he was also a part-time player for St Johnstone.

He came to Bradford after a letter from a Polish colleague, and lived there for the rest of his life, initially working at the woollen mill of Sir Kenneth Parkinson on Thornton Road.

Eddie, who re-married after his first wife died, was Santa Claus at Tong Garden Centre for many years until 2005, and was diagnosed the following year with Wegener's Granulomatosis - inflammation of the blood vessels which restricts blood flow to various organs.

His funeral service will be at Scholemoor Crematorium on Friday, April 11 (11.30am).