The family of a man who died despite a desperate attempt by neighbours to save him today paid tribute to their "loveable rogue".

William Friar was pulled from a fire in the kitchen of his home in Bolton Hall Road, Bolton Woods, by neighbours.

Rescuers tried to resuscitate Mr Friar, who was known as 'Sonny', but he was pronounced dead at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

The 76-year-old died from natural causes on Monday.

Today his four children said they had "wanted for nothing" during their dad's life.

Three of the children, Nicolas Friar, Rebecca Pickles and Victoria Friar, were brought up in a caravan owned by Mr Friar on land off Westfield Lane, Wrose.

"He was a brilliant dad," said Nicolas, 37. "He didn't give us a lot of money but we never needed for anything at all. He was a lovely man."

Rebecca, 28, said her dad's first love was horses and after buying one as a teenager he owned dozens throughout his life.

"He went to Appleby horse fair every year and carried on going throughout his life," she said.

Born in Bradford to a travelling family, Mr Friar attended Woodend School.

"My dad was a bit of a loveable rogue and wheeler-dealer really," said Victoria, 34. "He was well-known in the Wrose area and many people will miss him. He could never be too mad with us and loved us all unconditionally whatever the circumstances.

"There aren't many people like him left these days."

Victoria paid tribute to the neighbours who tried to save Mr Friar, the fire brigade and staff at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

"The fact that the neighbours tried to save him showed how much people thought of him round here," she said.

Mr Friar moved into his Bolton Hall Road home more than 25 years ago and worked as a taxi driver for many years but spent most of his spare time looking after his horses.

He was married twice and had another daughter Barbara Moore, 50, from his first marriage.

He was divorced from second wife Jennifer.

He also leaves two grandchildren, Faye and Phoebe.

Mr Friar's body will be carried in a hearse pulled by two horses from Carr Road, Shipley, at 1pm to Nab Wood Crematorium where a ceremony will be held at 1.30pm on Monday.

Donations can be made to arthritis charities at the ceremony.