The traumatised family of a retired bus driver found beaten on a street have spoken of their heartbreak at his gruesome death.

Father-of-six Mohammed Mukhtar Choudury was found with severe head injuries at the junction of Scotchman Lane and Heaton Road, Bradford, by a passing ambulance crew on Saturday morning.

Today, his brother-in-law told how Mr Choudury, 50, had bought a second home next to his first house in Duchy Crescent and was making plans for the family's future.

Ashfaq Hussain, 28, from Hawkswood Avenue, said: "He retired from the buses a couple of years ago after 20 years and had been making plans for his and his family's future.

"Now we are all left asking, 'why?' He never hurt anyone. All he ever did was live his life for his family and others, he was never selfish.

"His six children and wife have all got to cope with this. He was such a jolly and gentle person, everyone loved him.

"Friends from Pakistan who moved over to here and settled in different parts of the country have been to see him. He was so well known and liked."

The family is trying to send Mr Choudury's body and 15 of his relatives to Pakistan - where his mother lives - for a funeral.

They also plan to hold a ceremony in Bradford.

Mr Choudury came to England in 1977 from his home town of Gujarkhan in Rawalpindi, starting work as a bus driver almost immediately.

Mr Hussain added: "I've known him since I was a boy. He was always so good to me and had time for everyone.

"This death is the kind of thing you read in the newspapers or see on TV but it always seems so distant, you never imagine it will happen to someone so close to you.

"But it seems it always happens to the good ones."

Neighbour Safdar Aziz said Mr Choudury always had time for a chat: "I would see him just as I was going to work or coming back and he would always talk to you. You can tell by the number of people who have come to pay respects how popular he was."

l Two people appeared at Bradford Magistrates Court yesterday charged with the murder of Mr Choudury.

Darren Rhodes, 22, and his girlfriend Debbie Andrews, 21, both of Heaton Road, Manningham, were remanded in custody for a week.