A village is in mourning for the larger-than-life character who loved to chat on his milkround.

Villagers have spoken fondly of farmer, Colin Chew, who was flung from his tractor and died when it was hit by a 40-tonne runaway crane.

Mr Chew, 44, believed to be of Belle Vue Farm, Micklethwaite, was driving down Alma Terrace, in East Morton, near Bingley, towing a spreader, when the accident happened on Thursday morning.

The road was not clear for 11 hours as police carried out an investigation and the wreckage was removed.

As villagers came to terms with the tragedy, they called for heavy vehicles to be banned from using the road, which they describe as a dangerous rat-run to Ilkley and Leeds.

Retired shopkeeper Jack Warren, of Providence Row, East Morton, said: “One of the saddest things was to see Colin’s sheep on Thursday night waiting for him at the top of the field to come and feed them which he did every night.

“Maybe this tragedy will make somebody take action and stop these lorries coming through. It’s one of the steepest hills round here and not suitable for them.”

Mr Chew’s close friend Barry Farrar, of Elm Grove, said: “He was a smashing lad, so friendly – a real dry character.

“He always had time for people and enjoyed a chat and would go out of his way to help people. People had a lot of respect for him in the village.”

The road was totally unsuitable for the heavy vehicles that used it as a rat run, he added.

Kate McCormack, who ran the village shop until about a year ago, said the village was in shock and mourning for Mr Chew who was such a larger-than-life character.

“He loved to chat to everyone and we would smile in the morning when Colin was delayed with the milk and say he’d be chatting somewhere.

“He was such a likeable character and so well known – we feel so sorry for his parents.”

Mr Chew, a bachelor, lived with his elderly retired parents, Dorothy and Roy. As well as delivering the milk, he kept a flock of sheep and some beef cattle.

An Airedale and North Bradford Police spokesman said Mr Chew died a short time after being taken to Airedale General Hospital.

Witnesses described how the crane flattened a parked BMW car as it travelled down the hill, knocking down a telegraph pole and ploughing into the back of the muck spreader.

Mr Chew was flung from his tractor when it and the spreader jack-knifed and the crane carried on downhill.

The driver of the crane walked away with minor injuries.

A parked Renault Megane was also damaged in the incident.

Anyone who saw the incident, which occurred at about 9.50am, or the events shortly before the collision should contact PC 1797 William Lawson, at Airedale and North Bradford Road Traffic, on 0845 6060606.