One of Haworth’s longest serving shopkeepers has been found dead.

The body of Michael Snowden was discovered at his shop-home address in Main Street early on Monday morning.

Police officers were called to the scene shortly before 6am. West Yorkshire Police later said the death was not being treated as suspicious.

Mr Snowden owned the shop and had worked there for at least 47 years. He was in his late 60s, single and lived in a flat above his business.

He had been a keen pianist and studied at the London College of Music for 13 years.

He also worked as a florist, after beginning flower arranging at the age of 18. His used his self-taught expertise to put together displays for people, such as Princess Margaret and the famous ballerina Margot Fonteyn. On one occasion his work even caught the eye of the then Leader of the Opposition, Margaret Thatcher.

Haworth Village Association vice-chairman Mike Hutchinson, who knew Mr Snowden for 25 years, said: “He was a lovely guy. I told somebody about his death last night and they just broke down. He was one of the instigators of the traders association.”

A former Haworth shopkeeper, Alma Johnson, who still lives in Main Street, said: “He was part of the street — like the cobbles.”

Haworth resident Jens Hislop, a retired policeman, said he had known Mr Snowden for 30 or 40 years. “He was always very pleasant, a smashing chap really,” he said.

He added he understood Mr Snowden had four brothers and a sister. Two of the brothers run grocery shops in Mill Hey, Haworth, and Cross Roads.

No date has yet been fixed for an inquest into the death.