TRIBUTES have poured in after the death of a detective sergeant who collapsed and died of a suspected heart attack on Friday while on holiday in Ibiza with his wife.

The 50-year-old Yorkshireman, who once took to wearing a Victorian style police cape, joined Thames Valley Police in 1985 and spent most of his career working in the High Wycombe and Amersham areas.

He was well-known in High Wycombe for his two-and-a-half years heading the town centre police team and for his role as town crier. He lived in the town.

High Wycombe Mayor Nigel Vickery said: "I'm still in shock. He was a great servant to the town, not only in his role as town crier but also through his police work."

Det Sgt Snelling's family said he would say what he thought and always expected a job to be done properly. He used to tell his family, on the rare occasions he spoke of work, that he was 'proud as punch' about the officers he worked alongside on the town centre team.

Chiltern Superintendent Mick Doyle said: "Bill will leave a lasting memory with all those at High Wycombe who were privileged to meet him during his time as a local officer.

"Over the years he was praised many times and received two Chief Constable's commendations for his courage, commitment and compassion."

Det Sgt Snelling was well-known for being outspoken and on one occasion ripped up the controversial Sheehy Report, which reviewed police methods, in front of 50 officers at a Police Federation meeting saying: "Reading that report stinks of one thing and one thing only, the cash register."

Most recently he started work with the Family Protection Unit at Marlow.

Superintendent David Belcher, head of the unit, said: "We are all devastated to learn of this tragic news. His experience and professionalism will be a great loss both to his colleagues and also to those he worked with in other caring agencies."

Sgt Snelling's daughter, Hazel, said: "Whatever he did he simply wanted to help people. He loved children and as they were the most helpless I suppose that explains his draw to the job.

"In other people's eyes though, he was very direct and there was no middle ground. He was very much like that about things. He did not change himself to appease other people but he had a very different side he reserved for his family."

His family hope that his beloved grandchildren, four-year-old Harley and three-year-old Amanda, will remember him in their own very private way.

Det Sgt Snelling's wife, Ann, is planning to put together a book about him and his work so his memory will live on for them.