A SOLDIER who died while on peace-keeping duties in Cyprus comes from Kirklees.

Warrant Officer Graham Bean was working with the United Nations on the island when he collapsed and died a short time later.

The 54-year-old father-of-three from 73 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, was taken ill while on a mountain bike patrol on Tuesday.

Help was called but WO2 Bean, from Cleckheaton, was pronounced dead at a hospital in Nicosia.

WO2 Bean joined the TA in 1975 and had also served in Bosnia and Iraq.

At the time of his death he was attached to 3 Royal Anglian Group.

The peacekeeping mission in Cyprus was established in 1964 to prevent fighting between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities on the island.

WO2 Bean’s son, David, 28, is currently preparing to serve in Afghanistan. He also leaves wife, Michele and daughters Hazel, 26, and 17-year-old Nicola.

In a statement, they said: “It has been such a shock to lose a loving father and husband who brought so much laughter and so many smiles to all who knew him.”