A colourful Keighley character known as 'Budgie Bill' has died at the age of 69.

Bill Smith had a pet stall at Keighley market for 40 years and was widely known for his helpful service and advice.

Mr Smith was born and bred in Keighley and he attended the town's grammar school.

In the early 1950s Mr Smith did two years of national service and spent a lot of time in Ireland.

He had two children, his eldest Sue and son Geoff, and grandchildren. Mr Smith kept various animals of his own over the years and at one point he kept a python and a tortoise, which he hatched from an egg himself.

The two pets shared a cage and Geoff recalls that people would visit his father to see the unlikely coupling and were amazed as the tortoise treated the snake as its mother.

Geoff says: "My father helped people with veterinary advice and with their birds - clipping their beaks and the like.

"He enjoyed his work and was well known.

"He was very well-liked - his motto was if you have nothing good to say about someone, don't say it and it won him many friends."

Mr Smith died on December 29, peacefully in his sleep after a long illness.