TRIBUTES have been paid to a devoted dad-of-two and decorated body builder who has died suddenly aged 55.

John Littlehales, who worked at Kimberly Clark in Barrow for 22 years, died on September 25 after suffering a heart attack.

The 55-year-old was a devoted husband of Dawn, loving dad of Jack and Rebecca and son of Mavis and the late Ronald.

Mr Littehales was born in Barrow, attending Greengate Infants and Junior School and Alfred Barrow School, before joining the shipyard as a coppersmith.

At age 16, Mr Littlehales joined Furness Health Studio training under Bill Hemsworth, where his passion for fitness and bodybuilding began.

Mr Littlehales competed in a number of bodybuilding events in his younger years, winning the top prize at the north west Britain and Great Britain bodybuilding competitions.

After ten years of competing, Mr Littlehales retired from his professional bodybuilding career but still regularly attended the gym, becoming a member of Ironwerx Gym in Barrow for a number of years.

Mr Littlehales married his wife Dawn in July 1997 and they went on to have two children, Jack and Rebecca.

Mrs Littlehales said her husband’s death has left a ‘huge void’ in the family’s lives.

“He was one of life’s true gents,” she said.

“He always made me laugh and smile and told me that he loved me every day.

“He was such a special man who worked so hard to do everything he could for his family. He was such a devoted son to his parents too.

“He had time for everyone.”

Mr Littlehales’ daughter Rebecca described her dad as ‘caring’ and someone that ‘always thought of others’.

“He always looked after us,” she said. He was always making dad jokes - he had a great sense of humour. He was the best dad you could ask for.”

Mr Littlehales was a devoted Manchester United supporter and regularly attended matches with the family.

Since his death, the family has been inundated with kind words of condolences.

“I don’t think we realised how many lives he touched,” Mrs Littlehales said.

“The house is filled with cards and flowers. He had a massive impact on everyone he met. He’s left a huge void in our lives.”

Ironwerx Gym owner Keith Devlin described Mr Littlehales as ‘a gentleman’ whose ‘big heart’ would stay with them all forever.

He said: “I’ve known John for a lot of years from when he first started training at Bill Hemsworth’s Furness Health Studio.

“Bill saw John had a lot of potential, especially his legs, which were world class.

“John went on and won the Mr Cumbria which was his stepping stone to a host of other titles.

“Throughout it all John was always a gentleman and never had a bad word to say about anybody, in or out of bodybuilding.

“When he first walked through my door I couldn’t believe it, the legend that was John Littlehales training at my little gym.

“We had a good craic about old times then he got down to training. He had lost none of his old drive. I remember him saying to me that l reminded him of the late Bill Hemsworth, the biggest compliment he could have paid me.

“I’m so sad that John has been taken from his family and the rest of us at such a relatively young age. John’s humour, wit and big heart will stay with us all forever though.”