Members of The Yorkshire Classic Motor Cycle Club lost a friend and stalwart of the trails bike scene with the death of Howard Midgley on Monday.

Mr Midgley, 70, of Crossroads, Keighley, died in Airedale General Hospital after suffering breathing and kidney problems.

He was nationally known and respected in Pre-65 motor cycle sport for his knowledge of British motor cycles.

He was also a founder member of the original Yorks and Lancs Classic Motor Cycle Club.

Telegraph & Argus motorsport correspondent Barry Robinson said: "He was a true character, he never wasted words, he made his comments, and was a stickler for technical accuracy.

"Some may not have agreed with him, but that was Howard, fiercely defensive of anything Yorkshire, and anything in motorcycle sport, as long as it was made in Britain."

Mr Midgley owned many classic British competition machines, and was an expert at restoring them to their original factory specification.

He retired from his job as a drainage inspector for Keighley six years ago.

At the beginning of his illness he was designate clerk of course for the the Yorkshire Classic Motor Cycle Club's Boxing Day trial at Denholme and the opening trial of the year at Haworth.

At the time of his death he was nursing his wife Norma who had suffered a broken hip six weeks earlier.

The couple suffered the loss of their 19-year-old son Darren 17 years ago today, when he was involved in a motorcycle accident while riding to work.

Mr Midgley leaves Norma, his daughter Deborah and grandchildren Victoria and Georgina.