A POPULAR traveller and well-known vehicle dealer has died from heart failure.

Frank Buck, 75, passed away in York Hospital on December 23 after battling a number of illnesses in recent years.

He was known throughout the travelling community in York and this was reflected at his funeral, where there was standing room only as hundreds turned up to remember his life at York Crematorium on Thursday.

Friend Bob Brown, 61, of Malton has known Mr Buck all his life but admitted he had been "down on his luck" over the past 10 years.

"He was a loveable character and everyone he met seemed to like him.

"If you met him you never forgot him and he was a likeable rogue."

Mr Buck loved cars and his passion led him to run a commercial vehicle dealership in Gale Lane.

He travelled across the country and would often impress others with his knowledge of the places he visited.

And by the time of his death, his friend estimates Mr Brown had collected around 900 car mascots.

Mr Brown added: "I’ve never met anyone who seemed to know every village in England.

"If you named anywhere he would tell you how to get there and tell you the pub in the village.

"He had a really good memory and was very well travelled.”

A close friend, Glen Allen, added: "He was a big gentle giant.

"I have known him all my life and I am 57. He was a friend of the family.

"A few years ago he had problems and we took him in. He had cancer, then he broke his hip. We looked after him. He died of heart failure."

Mr Buck, a partner of the late Daphne, is survived by his brother, Ben.