Tributes have been paid after a much-loved Irvine shopkeeper passed away. 

Paul Singh, who ran the Premier Irvine Late Shop in Bank Street for more than 30 years, died aged 52 on Sunday, April 28 after a period of ill health.

Customers have been invited to pay their last respects to Paul this Wednesday as the hearse passes through Bank Street at 9.20am, with the shop closed that day for the funeral.

Daughter Harjit Shergill Sapkota paid tribute to her beloved father and thanked customers for all their support.  

She said: "We're really thankful for everyone who has already given flowers and cards, we've been overwhelmed with the support of the community, everyone has been so helpful.

"It's come as a shock to everyone. He's been here for about 33 years, a long long time. I think it was 1986 they had bought the shop. He only turned 52 on April 22. 

"He had such a bubbly personality and liked to crack a joke, he did have quite a dry sense of humour. 

"He did a lot of community work as well. He started off AMECA the Ayrshire Minority Ethnic Communities Association, which included people from Poland, Muslim minorities and Sikh minorities, to help everyone have their say. He did that for a quite a few years and did a lot of charity work as well, when he first opened he used to sponsor a lot of football teams and give away raffle prizes.

"The funeral is this Wednesday, May 8 and we wanted our customers to know if they want to pay their last respects the hearse will be passing through Bank Street at 9.20am on Wednesday, May 8. We thought that it was only right that he passed through his daily route and the shop."