Tributes have been paid to a "kind and gentle" postman who died aged 62.

Mick Bundock was well-known across Sheppey, having delivered letters for the Royal Mail to Leysdown, Eastchurch, Queenborough and Sheerness for more than 30 years.

His widow Julie said: "He was a kind and gentle man who loved the people he delivered to.

"He often went above and beyond his work.

"He always carried a spare stamp in his wallet for whose who needed it and would pop to the corner shop to buy tea bags, milk or sugar to help his more elderly customers or those who couldn't get out."

Mr Bundock was born in Cromwell Road at West Minster.

When the homes were bulldozed as part of the regeneration of the area his family moved to Minster. He met his wife on a blind date in a pub.

She recalled: "Our friends arranged for us to meet at the former Ship Inn at Queenborough Corner but we both laughed when we recognised each other.

"We already knew each other because he was my postman and had spoken to each other in passing."

Mr Bundock, who lived in Victoria Street, Sheerness, leaves three grown-up children, Mandy, Matthew and Philip, and three grandchildren, James, 14, Evie, seven and 10-month-old Logan.

Mrs Bundock said: "His grandchildren were his pride and joy."

"He always carried a spare stamp in his wallet for whose who needed it and would pop to the corner shop to buy tea bags, milk or sugar to help his more elderly customers or those who couldn't get out" - Julie Bundock

She added: "He loved watching his TV, visiting zoos and was forever taking James on trips on steam trains.

"He also had a passion for veteran buses and would insist on riding on them if he ever had the chance while the rest of us bounced up and down.

"He would tell everyone how wonderful they were."

Mr Bundock also insisted on visiting London every year to see the Christmas lights.

Mrs Bundock said: "He would go every year with his grandson and insist on buying him a present, even though he was told not to.

"He said it was a grandad's prerogative."

Mr Bundock died at the Wisdom Hospice, Rochester, last Tuesday after being diagnosed with cancer less than a year ago.

He was forced to resign through ill-health.

Mrs Bundock said: "He would meet his customers in the street and they would all ask when he was going back to work.

"They were upset when he told them he wouldn't."

His funeral is at the Garden of England crematorium in Bobbing this Friday at 3pm followed by a wake at the Abbey Hotel, off The Broadway, Minster.