Tributes have been paid to an "indestructible" supermarket porter with an incredible work ethic after he collapsed and died at the end of a shift.

Patrick O'Brien's working life spanned an extraordinary 74 years - starting at the age of 12 in a factory near his home in Ireland.

He was still employed at 86 years old in Asda in Canterbury, which is where he passed away suddenly on February 25, shortly after finishing work.

Over the decades, he was a London bus conductor and driver, a P&O cruise liner steward and a pub landlord in London.

He went on to run the Haywain at Bramling near Canterbury for 16 years, until 2001 - but his 'retirement' lasted just a week.

For the past 22 years, he was a familiar sight in the Asda car park, where he could regularly be seen shepherding trollies and cheerily helping and chatting with shoppers.

Patrick's unexpected death has shocked and deeply saddened his family.

"We all thought he was indestructible because he was so active and was never going to retire," said his daughter, Shauna-Aine O'Brien.

Patrick was the youngest of five siblings and born and raised Clara, County Offaly which he would often revisit.

He lived in Beltinge with his wife of 50 years, Susan, and they had two daughters, Shauna-Aine and Sarah.

The couple first met more than 60 years ago when he was a P&O steward and she was a passenger on the cruise ship.

"His travels all over the world really inspired us," said Shauna-Aine.

"He just loved being outdoors and would get up at 6am every day and go for walks around the village or along the beach.

"He said that staying active kept him young and we thought he would go on forever."

But she revealed that he had suffered a virus and chest infection over Christmas and was being tested for a possible heart condition.

Yet his sudden death still came as a "huge shock" to the family.

"Dad was so well known, both at Asda and in places like Wetherspoon's in Herne Bay and the Copper Pottle in Beltinge and we have been overwhelmed by people's kind comments and cards and flowers," said Shauna-Aine.

"We comfort ourselves in that he had a good life with so many wonderful experiences and memories."

A private family funeral service is being organised for Patrick later this month.