A man who was hailed a hero when he saved the lives of a group of children has died at the age of 89.

Norman Sands, of Cullingworth, died on Monday. He had earned praise and became an instant hero when he saved 12 children, whom he was helping across a zebra crossing.

Norman, a traffic warden, was on school crossing patrol duty in Oakworth Road, Keighley, in September, 1978, when he saw a speeding car approaching the group.

He bundled the children together and away from the road, putting himself at risk from the car.

The stolen car, which failed to stop and 150 yards further on killed another motorist, hit Norman, knocking him unconscious.

He was taken to Airedale Hospital with a fractured pelvis, fractured and dislocated shoulder, bruising and internal bleeding.

Norman, then 64, was a year later awarded the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct and a certificate from the Carnegie Hero Fund Trust by Lord Lieutenant William Bulmer, at the West Yorkshire Police Academy.

His son, Duncan, said the act was typical of his kind-hearted father.

He said: "His action in saving those children registered him as a national hero and he received awards.

"That was fairly typical of dad. He was always helpful and he always wanted to help others."

Duncan added: "He was a loving father. He was always cheerful and he would not have hurt anybody in his life."

On his retirement a year after his act of bravery, Supt Bernard Burke, presented him with a picnic hamper on behalf of the police and fellow traffic wardens.

Supt Burke said at the presentation: "Without consideration of his own safety, he saved the lives of these children and nearly forfeited his own.

"I am sure he did it without any thought of his own glory. He did it in the normal course of his duties.

"Norman is a modest man and doesn't want a fuss making about it," added Supt Burke

Norman, had twin sons, Duncan and Douglas, by his first marriage to Jessie, who died 30 years ago. He later married again to Charlotte. He also leaves two grandchildren, Andrew and Greg.

He was a traffic warden for 11 years prior to his retirement and before that he was a hairdresser in Cullingworth for the majority of his working life.

Duncan added that his father enjoyed old-time sequence dancing and crown green bowling.