Tributes were today paid to a well-known master tailor who ran a business in the Bradford district for more than 35 years.

Pawlo Walowka, who has died aged 80 at his home in Shipley, followed his dream to set up a tailoring shop after he came to England as a refugee in 1947 following the Second World War.

He learned his trade from his father. By the age of ten in his native Ukraine he was working long days and nights at his table, snatching just a few hours of sleep.

But he was badly treated at the hands of the Russians and was forced to do manual labour on the railway lines during the Second World War.

After fleeing the country, Mr Walowka - known as Paul - took his first job in England at a Guiseley mill. He later found work with a Bradford tailor.

He opened a shop in Whetley Hill in 1952, then moved to Drewton Street in Bradford. He later had shops in Shipley and Bingley and finally Sandbeds in Keighley, where he is pictured.

His wife Eva worked with him and specialised in the finishing of garments at the made-to-measure shop which supplied customers from around the world, including Yorkshire television personality Richard Whiteley. He retired in 1988 and the business, in Bradford Road, was taken over by menswear retailer Michael Bower.

Nick Lajszczuk, chairman of the Ukrainian Association in Keighley, was a close friend of Mr Walowka and described him as "a gentleman".

"He was one of the few successful businessmen who came here from the Ukraine after the war," said Mr Lajszczuk. "He had a flair for his work, everything he did was quality. He was a sociable guy who loved company and working with people. Although he was a wealthy businessman, he was always very approachable."

David Petyt, owner of a menswear shop in Hanover Street, Keighley, and a past president of the Keighley Chamber of Trade, said: "He was a well-known and excellent tailor. He was well thought of. He will be missed."

Mr Walowka, who was very close to his family in the Ukraine, died peacefully on Saturday. His funeral takes place tomorrow at 12.30pm at Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church in Bradford.