Tributes were today paid to a Catholic priest who died sudden ly from a heart attack, aged 41.

The Reverend Paul Brook was found dead at his home at the Presbytery of the Sacred Heart Church in Thornton, Bradford.

He is believed to have died in his sleep early on Monday.

Father Brook was ordained priest in the Chapel of Trinity & All Saints College, Leeds, on June 2, 1989, and appointed as Assistant Priest to St William's, Bradford, where he remained until 1992.

From then until 1996 he was a Chaplain in the RAF, serving in RAF Cottesmore and Kinloss. In 1997 he became a Prison Chaplain, serving at HMP Durham where he worked until the following year when he became Priest-in-Charge at St Joseph's, Batley Carr, and Priest-in-Residence at St Peter's Belle Isle during 1999.

In January 2000, he was appointed Priest-in-Charge of Sacred Heart Thornton.

Today close friend, the Reverend Kevin Gleeson, said Father Brook would be remembered as a man who always helped others.

"He was very kind, very generous and committed to his work," he said.

"Everyone he met warmed to him. There was no badness in Paul whatsoever and he was always willing to do things for people."

Father Brook is survived by his father, Leo, his brother Peter, and his sisters Kathleen and Marie-Clare.

A reception of body followed by Mass will take place at Sacred Heart, Thornton, on Tuesday at 7pm.

A funeral service will take place the following day at St William's, Bradford, celebrated by the Bishops, followed by interment at Killingbeck Cemetery, Leeds.

Thornton Councillor Val Binney (Con) said she was shocked to hear of Father Brook's death.

"He will be a great loss to the church and to the community," she said.