Former Coronation Street star Bryan Mosley collapsed and died in Shipley town centre - just minutes after a trip to the bank to sort out money for a foreign holiday.

And today as tributes poured in for the popular soap star, known to millions as Alf Roberts, the Street's shopkeeper and Mayor of Weatherfield, his daughter told how he had been looking forward to a trip to the Venice Carnival.

Mr Mosley, 67, of Bankfield Road, Shipley, had been with his wife Norma at the indoor market in Westgate, Shipley, when he collapsed. He had suffered heart trouble for some time.

Steve Marshall, who runs a key cutting stall at the entrance to Shipley Market, saw Mr Mosley collapse as he opened the market door.

He said: "I just heard a clatter and when I turned around he was on the floor. He didn't look well at all, very ashen and gaunt but he was still conscious and breathing. I went to help but there were people seeing to him already. So I came back in the market and one of the other stall holders phone an ambulance. He used to come in quite regularly and he was a really pleasant bloke. It's really sad."

Ambulance crews tried to revive him and he was taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary but was dead on arrival. His wife was at his side during his last moments.

Most of his family were too distressed to talk, but his eldest daughter Jackie Lambert said at the family home: "We are mourning and grieving as a family in our own way.

"It was completely unexpected. It's come as a great shock to everyone. He was going to Venice Carnival and that was why he had gone to the bank. He had been really looking forward to it."

Well-known Shipley trader Eric Hudson paid tribute to Mr Mosley's involvement in the community.

"He was very well known and he will be very sadly missed," said Mr Hudson, who runs a newsagent's in Market Square.

"Bryan was quite happy to talk to people and always had a good word to say about them. People knew him as a person as well as someone on television and that was the main beauty about him.

"He didn't have a big star mentality. He was a person and that's how he wanted to be, just a person doing a job like you and me."

Father Bill Finnegan, priest at St Walburga's RC Church in Shipley, where Mr Mosley was a regular worshipper, said: "It's just such a great loss. He was a regular worshipper with his family and he was very much known as a prayerful person.

"He prayed for all people and prayed in particular for the poor and those in need. He was simply so kind and so dear and he will be very sadly missed."

David Pitts, press officer for the West Yorkshire Ambulance Service, said a crew had arrived at the scene within four minutes after a shopkeeper had dialled 999. Medical advice was relayed by phone to the scene while the ambulance was on its way.

Ambulance crew members Karen Chipman(crrt) and Andy Sharpe treated Mr Mosley at the scene for a suspected heart attack and continued the treatment en-route to hospital.

Shopkeeper Alf Roberts was a Coronation Street regular from 1961 to New Year's Eve when the character died in his sleep in a special farewell episode.

Ill health was behind producers' decision to retire him from the programme.

Mr Mosley married his wife in Leeds in 1956. The couple had six children and six grandchildren.

Granada Television spokesman Alison Sinclair said: "Obviously everyone here is devastated. It was very sudden. Bryan would not have wanted another lengthy illness. "

The screen wife of 'Alf' may not yet have learned of his death. Actress Sue Nicholls, who played vivacious wife Audrey in the soap for more than 13 years, is on a promotional tour of New Zealand with Helen Worth, who plays her screen daughter Gail Platt.

More to actor Bryan than the 'Street'

When Bryan Mosley joined the cast of Coronation Street in episode 18 in 1961 - as a postal pal of Ken Barlow's father, Frank - he could hardly have imagined he would be in the show for 37 years.

The Leeds-born actor became a regular in 1969, appearing in 1,863 episodes.

Bryan attended art school in Dundee and began his acting career in pantomime at St Andrews in 1950.

His film credits included Charlie Bubbles and Michael Caine's Get Carter.

Television roles away from the Street included Z Cars, Armchair Theatre, The Saint, No Hiding Place, The Avengers and Doctor Who.

But after landing a regular part in Coronation Street Bryan devoted the rest of his acting career to the soap.

The owner of the corner shop, Alf was the small businessman who became a councillor and mayor.

Alf's final storyline saw free-spending wife Audrey pursued by butcher Fred Elliott. Viewers saw her dancing with Fred at a New Year's Eve party while Alf was resting in an armchair. He died as the clock struck midnight.

He was unhappy at the way he was written out by producers of the soap, who have been accused by critics of getting rid of a string of older characters as part of a ratings battle with EastEnders.

He said last month: "I am so disappointed that they did not phase me out gently. It was like 'crash, bang, you're out'. I do happen to feel Alf is a great loss to the Street and I think he will be missed. There was still a lot for him to do as a character."

'Corrie' co-stars tell of sadness

Coronation Street cast members have paid glowing tributes. Julie Goodyear, who left the show after playing busty blonde licensee Bet Gilroy, said: "Bryan was a very special man. A great mate and a fantastic colleague, with a great sense of humour.

"He was a total professional and a marvellous family man."

William Roache, who plays Ken Barlow, said: "When he retired we all thought it was very sad but appropriate because he wasn't well.

"I had just written to him to say that I still wanted to be his friend and because he had just retired we hoped that he could go on for a long while. So his death has come as a terrible shock.''

Liz Dawn, alias Vera Duckworth, said: "This is terribly, terribly sad. I will miss him greatly."

And Betty Driver, whose character Betty Williams works in the Rovers Return, said: "He was a joy to work with. I have known him since I came into the programme and I loved working with him."

Johnny Briggs, who plays businessman Mike Baldwin in the show, said he was absolutely devastated.

"I will remember him to the day I die because he has been a great, great friend of mine. He was wonderful. A family man and a bloody good actor. I had to leave the room immediately when I was told.''

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