TRIBUTES have been paid to a popular pensioner who died while visiting his daughter in South Africa.

Widower John Kyle, from Pheonix Place, Shildon, County Durham, died from a stroke two weeks ago.

The 71-year-old went to South Africa, in February, to visit his daughter, Sandra Holmes, in a bid to get over the death of his wife, Annie, who died last October.

His body has been flown back to his home town where there was standing room only at his funeral, last Thursday, in the Spiritualist Church, in Middleton Road.

Daughter Angela Schofield said: "He was the best dad in the world. He worked as conductor for United buses for 31 years and used to sing to his passengers."

The singing tradition carried on when he and his wife went on holiday with Shildon company Humbles Coaches.

Malcolm Humble said: "He was a kind man and a good friend. He did all he could to help me and my passengers and that often included a song or two. Both John and Annie will be missed."

Daughter Sandra said her father was a devoted family man, visiting his 90-year-old mother once a week, and he also loved gardening.

She said: "He was not only a good father but a good friend. He thought the world of his grandchildren and great grandchild."

Daughter Valerie Walker said her father and mother were devoted and although he did his best to get on he pined for her.