A DISTINGUISHED former police officer in Bradford has died at the age of 71.

Joseph Barker Wilson, who completed more than 40 years active service in the district died last month surrounded by his family.

Mr Wilson retired from West Yorkshire Police 11 years ago, and also received the Queen's Police Medal in 1992 for distinguished service.

He entered the force as a teenager, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather who were both police officers.

In recent years, Mr Wilson turned his attention to writing and research, and wrote a book - The Former Police Stations of Bradford, 1847 to 1974 - which provided a photographic and informative look back at Bradford City Police before the merger into West Yorkshire Police.

The book was published in 2016, but he had first spawned the idea 30 years ago.

Speaking in 2016, Mr Wilson said: "In the 1980s one of my colleagues was a photographer, and on a day off we went around taking photos of the old police stations that were still standing, and since my father and grandfather were both police officers I had all this information about the stations."

When the book was released, Mr Wilson was granted a civic reception by then Lord Mayor of Bradford Councillor Geoff Reid, and a tour of City Hall.

Mr Wilson died on May 7 at Bradford Royal Infirmary, and is survived his two sons Joseph and John and his sister Anne.

His funeral took place at St Barnabas' Church in Heaton on June 12.