The family of a Bradford doctor are setting up a charity in memory of their father.

Dr Syed Abbasi, who practised as a GP in the Great Horton area for nearly 20 years, died two years ago and now his ten children have set up the Dr Syed Fateh Shah Abbasi Memorial Trust to honour his memory and continue his good work.

"My father did so many charitable things in his lifetime, we would like to continue that work in his good name and build on it," said his son Waheed Abbasi.

"Throughout his life he supported eight poor families in Pakistan whenever he was able, he gave money to a local school and paid for a number of water pumps."

Apart from continuing their father's work in Pakistan the family also want to assist students in the UK with their studies, providing hardship grants.

"Education was everything to my father and helping others study would have given him great pleasure," said Mr Abbasi.

Dr Abbasi was born in Gujerat in 1921 and brought up in Karachi.

He married his wife Anwar in his early teens in 1935, to honour his parents' wishes.

"They had a wonderful marriage and throughout his life my mother supported him relentlessly," said Mr Abbasi. "On leaving school he worked in various jobs including selling tea bags on a bicycle, a clerk in the railways and a fumigator inspector on airplanes.

"He struggled to make ends meet but never gave up hope."

Mr Abbasi said his father decided to return to his studies after being told he was worth nothing by a former boss because he had no qualifications.

"That made him determined to succeed," he said.

He returned to school to pursue his education and gained entry to one of the most esteemed medical colleges at that time, the Dow Medical College, Karachi.

While studying Dr Abbasi worked during the nights and went to college during the day.

The family moved to the UK in 1969 and he first worked as a junior doctor in the accident and emergency department at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

He then worked as a GP in Great Horton Road, Bradford. "He started his practice with one patient and built it up to 3,400 patients in two well-established practices by the time he retired in 1991," said his son.

"His patients were everything to him and we would very much like to hear from anyone who was treated by him."

Sadly Dr Abbisi lost his sight when he fell victim to glaucoma.

"This did nothing to deter him," said Mr Abbasi.

"In fact it strengthened his resolve."

Mr Abbasi said his father was remarkably fit right up to his death at the age of 81.

"His sudden death was a complete shock to us all and it leaves us with an infinite vacuum left by his absence," he said.

The memorial trust will be launched officially on Sunday, July 17, from noon at St Wilfred's Church Hall, St Wilfred's Road, Bradford.

Anyone wishing to contact the family can call (01274) 880920.