Social workers will sift through the possessions of a showbiz writer who died nearly a month ago in a bid to trace his relatives.

Geoff Mellor, who was 79, collapsed and died on his way to write a theatre review.

He was one of Yorkshire's best-known theatre and film writers and tributes have flooded in from friends and colleagues.

But Mr Mellor lived alone and had no immediate family. The authorities have not tracked down any living relations since his death and no funeral arrangements have yet been made.

Now Bradford Council's social services department plans to search his home in Langbar Avenue, Heaton, Bradford, for clues to any surviving family members.

A spokesman said: "The funeral will be held when we have arranged a thorough search of his house in Bradford. This is to determine whether there is a will or any instructions or details of any next of kin we need to contact before a funeral takes place."

Local authorities have a duty under Section 46 of the Public Health Act (Control of Diseases) 1984 to make suitable arrangements for the disposal of the body in the absence of anyone willing or able to do so. Funeral costs are then recoverable from the dead person's estate if they have one.

Mr Mellor contributed articles to the Telegraph & Argus and the national theatrical magazine The Stage, as well as having several books published, particularly about variety and music hall.

He first started writing about the entertainment scene in 1961. His books included Pom-Poms and Ruffles about northern seaside entertainment, which was published in 1966 and featured a contribution by JB Priestley.

He also published Northern Music Hall in 1970, which became a standard work; Picture Pioneers (1971), which celebrated 75 years of cinema in the north; Theatres of Bradford (1978); Cinemas of Bradford (1983), and They Made Us Laugh (1982), a book about comedians. His last book was Movie Makers and Picture Palaces, published by Bradford Libraries in 1996 to commemorate the centenary of cinema in Yorkshire.

Mr Mellor had been on his way to the City Varieties in Leeds to review The Good Old Days when he collapsed. The social work department at Leeds General Infirmary, where he died, will make funeral arrangements once the search has been carried out.

Friend and neighbour Elizabeth Minshull, also of Langbar Avenue, said: "It's very distressing for his friends. People keep asking me what's happening with the funeral and I can't tell them anything. They're not certain yet whether he's made a will."

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