The funeral of political campaigner and local historian John Appleyard will be held next week.

Mr Appleyard, who lived in Liversedge and was a prolific letter writer to local newspapers, including the Telegraph & Argus, has died from cancer, aged 66.

He was an active Labour Party campaigner, former agent for elections in Leeds, and editor of the Labour Party publication, the Leeds Weekly Citizen.

He also worked closely with a number of local MPs, including Denis Healey in East Leeds; and Mike Wood, Jo Cox and more recently Tracy Brabin in Batley and Spen.

An active trade unionist, he was a member of Unison, and was awarded a small miners' lamp in recognition of his actions during the 1984 strike as a member of the Miners Support in Leeds.

Mr Appleyard was born and brought up in Kirkstall in west Leeds. He worked for Leeds City Council as a finance officer until he took early retirement, after which he moved to Liversedge in the Spen Valley.

After moving to Liversedge, he devoted his retirement to supporting local community and voluntary organisations.

He was an active member of the Spen Valley Civic Society and the Friends of Red House Museum in Gomersal.

He also served as chairman of Firthcliffe Tenants and Residents Association, and was on the North Kirklees Hate Crime Committee (West Yorkshire Police).

Mr Appleyard had a special interest in Luddite, Chartist and Bronte local history and as a young man his passion for music included being lead guitarist in a local band.

Spen Valley Civic Society is planning to plant a tree in honour of Mr Appleyard at its new project, the Jo Cox Community Wood, which is in the Spen Valley between Cleckheaton and Heckmondwike.

His funeral will take place at Huddersfield Crematorium on Tuesday, August 27, at 12.30pm.