RUDI Leavor, a well known leader of Bradford's Jewish community, died in the early hours of this morning, his family have announced.

Mr Leavor, a Holocaust survivor and the chairman of the Bradford Synagogue, was born in Berlin, Germany.

Mr Leavor, along with his parents and sister, left Nazi Germany for Bradford in 1937, when he was 11. All were refugees.

He attended Bradford Grammar School and later Leeds University where he trained to become a dentist. He later had a successful dental practice based in Heckmondwike. 

Mr Leavor's family paid tribute to a man who they described as a "great inspiration to all".

His family said: "It is with profound regret that I have to advise you that we lost our dear father in the early hours of this morning. He died peacefully in his sleep.

"He was the greatest husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather and great grandfather ever.

"Whilst we are all devastated, we take comfort from the fact that he lived a very long, successful and fruitful life full of love for all his family.

"We all spoke to him twice yesterday and he had a first visit from one of the grandchildren yesterday evening and he was his usual happy self.

"We know how much he was loved by so many people and a great inspiration to us all. The amount of messages received has been more than amazing and he loved to read every one of them.

"He is going to be so sorely missed."

"Love Anthony, Jonathan, Deborah and Caroline. X"