Scores of mourners were expected to pack Shipley's Lakean Ballroom today to bid farewell to the town's 'Lord of the Dance'.

Veteran dance teacher and ballroom owner Tommy Kean died in his sleep from a heart attack at his home in Cullingworth on November 4.

Since going into business almost 60 years ago he has helped thousands of people learn to dance, many of whom were expected to join his family and friends at the Briggate ballroom for his funeral service.

The 1pm service, due to be conducted by Captain Alberto Serem, of the Salvation Army's Shipley Corps, was ending with a rendition of Lord of the Dance.

A service at Nab Wood Crematorium was following at 2pm with mourners returning to the Lakean - an amalgam of Mr Kean's name and that of his first wife Edna Lake's - for a wake.

Mr Kean's widow Diane, 52, said she wanted the events to be a celebration of her husband's life.

She said: "He wouldn't want anyone to be mournful - we're hoping it will be a happy celebration of his life and if anyone wishes to dance afterwards that wouldn't be a problem at all.

"Tommy would have been in business 60 years next January and we just thought it was appropriate to have the service at the Lakean and give him a wonderful send-off.

"He loved every moment of it, the dancing and the function work, and the Lakean was Tommy.''

For the funeral of Mr Kean, who leaves a son Greg and daughter Jodie, family flowers only were being requested today, although donations in Mr Kean's memory were being collected and can be made to Dr Morrison's Heartbeat Appeal, for which various fundraising events have been staged at the Lakean, at Bradford Royal Infirmary.