The widow of a 33-year-old builder has paid tribute to "the love of her life" who worked during cancer to prepare a new garden for their two-year-old daughter.

Robert Bird embarked on a major job to landscape the garden for his beloved Hannah-Jo to play in before he died.

His wife, Angela, said it was typical of Bob - as he was known to friends and family - to be so selfless.

"We'd not been in our new house long and there was a lot of work to be done - six tonnes of earth was moved," she said. "He carried on working until it was all done. He was so set on leaving it all looking nice for his little girl."

Another time friends and family advised Bob against moving a hut in his garden. They went out and when they returned Bob had shifted the hut single-handedly. "That was just him," said Angela. "He just had to be getting on with things."

Bob, of Glenhurst Avenue, Keighley, died with his family by his side at Manorlands on Tuesday following a year-long battle against the rare cancer cholangiocarcinoma.

Bob was an animal lover who met Angela when they worked at the RSPCA centre in Mount Street, Bradford. He worked in the kennels and later became maintenance manager because of his practical skills.

"He knew about plumbing and electrics - he could turn his hand to most things," said Angela.

They worked alongside each other for several years, but romance did not blossom until 2001. The couple married in 2003.

Bob was in the Royal Artillery for four years from the age of 19 and served in Northern Ireland.

"When he was stationed in Germany he used to drive home whenever he could to see everyone," said Angela, 42.

"He was a lovely man. All who met him liked him. He was generous and caring and his family and friends thought the world of him. He had a charisma about him."

Bob also leaves his mother, Brenda, and sisters Sharon, Sue and Angela.

A funeral service will be held at St Mark's Church in Utley at noon on June 27, followed by a ceremony at Nab Wood Crematorium, in Shipley.