A photographer and former Wiltshire County Council employee whose pictures of crop circles appeared in the Wiltshire Times has died, aged 71.

Grandfather Brian Sidney George Crook, of Broadmead, Trowbridge, died at the Royal United Hospital, Bath, on November 12 from complications caused by a lifelong heart condition.

Born with a hole in the heart, Mr Crook turned his attention to the art world, where his passion for photography flared.

Mr Crook was born and brought up in Trowbridge, studying at Bath Art College and Frome Art School before going on to be a commercial artist and eventually working at County Hall in Trowbridge in the print room for the architects.

His wife of 41 years, Gillian Crook, who is a freelance hairdresser, said: “He has always been interested in photography, because of his health he wasn’t able to be that sporty but he was very artistic.

“He used to take pictures of crop circles, which were in the Wiltshire Times, and he took very good scenic pictures.”

Mr Crook leaves his wife, son Richard, 31, daughter Jacqueline Nsirim, 28, and her two children, Jacob and Jasmine.

His funeral was held on Monday at the West Wiltshire Crematorium in Semington. Donations in Mr Crooks’ memory can be made to the cardiac unit at Bath Hospital.