THE Bishop of Knaresborough died yesterday, at the age of 67.

The Right Reverend Frank Weston, who was due to retire at the end of May, suffered a stroke and died at St James' Hospital in Leeds.

His wife, Penelope, known as Poppy, and members of his family were at his bedside.

The Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, the Right Reverend John Packer, was among the first to lead the tributes following Bishop Frank's sudden death.

He said: "We were stunned to hear of Frank's death, during this period when we have been saying farewell to him and to Poppy.

"Personally, I have lost a close colleague and friend, who has guided and helped me over the three years we have worked together in Ripon and Leeds.

"Our prayers are with Poppy and the family, as we say thank you for the blessings Frank and she have brought to us, and commend him to God's care."

Bishop Frank had held a farewell dinner for colleagues and friends four days before he died.

He had been married for 40 years and was planning to retire to a house in Bridlington, east Yorkshire, with his wife.

A final service for the bishop had been due to take place at Ripon Cathedral on May 18.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been made and will be announced soon.

Bishop Frank had served the church as an ordained minister for more than 40 years.

He was appointed to the Diocese of Ripon, as it was then called, as the assistant bishop in 1998 to prepare and then take charge of the diocese following the retirement of the Bishop of Ripon, the Right Reverend David Young in 1999. He continued to have oversight of the diocese until the appointment of John Packer as bishop of the renamed Diocese of Ripon and Leeds in 2000. As well as steering the diocese through a change of name, Bishop Frank also chaired a working party which introduced new structures for mission across the diocese