A 33-year-old animal lover from Keighley has died after a battle with a rare form of cancer.

Robert Bird, pictured, known to friends as Bob, died with his family by his side at Manorlands on Tuesday.

The builder, of Glenhurst Avenue, was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma -- a rare form of cancer which started in his bile duct and quickly spread to his liver -- last July.

His wife Angela said: "He was only given six months but he was strong-willed and held on for quite a bit longer.

"He was so strong and so brave though it all.

"He kept working for as long as he could.

"He would not give in until he'd finished work he'd started in the garden for us."

The pair met while both working for the RSPCA. They married in 2003 and had daughter Hannah-Jo, who is now two.

Bob also had a step-son Lewis, 14, from a previous marriage.

Angela, 42, who became Bob's full time carer, said: "He was an amazing man. Everybody loved him. He was such a caring, genuine person.

"We crammed a lot into a short space of time. It was probably fate that we did that.

"He was really glad he'd got the little girl he'd always wanted."

She added: "Nobody will ever love me as much as he did. That's it for me. He was the love of my life. I'm so happy that I had him for the four years that I did."

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