A former head green keeper at Keighley Golf Club has died at the age of 84, following a long illness.

Sam Bailes died on April 11 in a Burnley nursing home following a long fight against motor neurone disease.

Mr Bailes became a familiar face to the Keighley golfing fraternity during his 22 years as head green keeper at the course.

He retired in September 1982 but continued to play the game and served as president of Riddlesden Golf Club.

Sam and his wife Ruth moved from the Keighley area to Barnoldswick in Lancashire in 1995, but he spent the last four years of his life in care due to the onset of his illness.

Ruth says: "He was a very keen golfer himself and he was very well known around both Riddlesden and Keighley courses."

A funeral service was held on April 18 at Skipton Crematorium.

Mr Bailes is survived by wife Ruth and daughters Celia, Jane and Cynthia.