George Walker, owner of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, store George's Tools Limited, passed away on Christmas Day at the age of 71.

Mr Walker had been diagnosed with lung cancer back in August. He was a market trader and retailer for more than 30 years before passing the business onto his daughter, Zena. She said, “The shop was always set up for me every morning. He was not one of those people who could sit at home and not do anything.”

Mr Walker, of Warburton, Emley, was a farmer and a tanker driver before becoming a trader along with wife Patricia, who owned a second hand stall, during the miner's strike in 1984-85. He began to buy second hand tools and built up a number of stalls in the Wakefield market.

He continued to trade in the market until the Trinity Walk shopping centre was built, at which time he leased a shop and founded George's Tools, which he ran until the age of 65.

Mr Walker is survived by his wife Patricia, daughter Zena and her partner Patrick, stepson Martin and his wife Theresa and granddaughter Vicky.

A funeral, which was reportedly packed to the rafters, was held for him last Tuesday at St Michael's Church, Emley.