THE funeral of a bus driver for almost two decades who sadly passed away in Bradford Interchange will take place later this month.

First Bus driver Stephen Addai, of West Bowling, suffered a medical episode at the station on Friday, December 22.

His son Nana has described him as a "hero without a cape" and someone who would do "everything for anyone".

First told the Telegraph & Argus everyone at the bus company in West Yorkshire is "shocked" by the "sudden and tragic loss".

The 66-year-old's funeral will take place at St John's Church on Neville Road on the morning of Friday, January 26.

"There's no words to express what my dad was like," Nana told the T&A.

"He knew how to support you when you needed it. He wore his heart on his sleeve."

A nurse attempted CPR before the ambulance service arrived but unfortunately, Stephen did not survive.

Nana added: "People have been passing on their condolences who we have never met. It is just so overwhelming.

"It was heartbreaking and shocking when we heard the news. We were all so emotional.

"The circumstances were just so sudden."

Mr Addai, who is originally from Ghana, came to Bradford in 2004 and joined First the following year.

Nana said: "He loved his job. He played table tennis with his colleagues. He had a great bond with them.

"I have learned a lot from his colleagues and what he meant to them. He just loved going to work."

Councillor Taj Salam, also a bus driver and branch secretary for the Unite Union, described his colleague as a "jolly" and "well-mannered" person.

"We knew him really well. He was a very close member of the driving community," he said.

"A lot of people saw him that day, parking his car, clocking on, and catching the staff bus to the Interchange. On that short journey, he said hello to so many people including myself.

"For us to be informed that he had suffered a medical episode 20 minutes after we saw him, it was a huge shock."

Mr Addai will depart from the funeral directors at 7.30am and stop at his home address before arriving at the First Bus Bradford depot for colleagues to bid their farewells. 

The service at St John's will start at 8am and his burial is scheduled at North Bierley cemetery for 9.30am.