Former village bobby Tony Delnevo, who became the fourth man to undergo a pioneering heart operation at the John Radcliffe Hospital, has died at the age of 73.

Mr Delnevo, of Little Blenheim, Yarnton, joined the police in the mid 1950s.

As a beat officer he served in Banbury, Rose Hill in Oxford and Thame before moving to Yarnton in 1966. He became a sergeant and, later, station duty officer at Woodstock before moving to Bicester and becoming involved in a number of community projects.

A year ago, cardiac surgeon Stephen Westaby implanted a tiny pump in Mr Delnevo's heart to help it send blood around his body.

His daughter Ann Lancaster said: "He was courageous and selfless. He hoped the operation would give him a new lease of life as well as benefiting people with similar heart conditions in future." She added: "He was a very loving father. He was always a supporter of everything my sister and I did.

"He was always so positive and optimistic.

"As a policeman, he knew what was going on and knew everyone in the village. People remember he had a knack of being at the right place at the right time.

"He was a good friend to a lot of people and will be sadly missed."

Mr Delnevo helped organise Cyclo 73, a motorcycle rally in Cassington. The rally, organised for young people, raised money for Guide Dogs For The Blind.

In 1980 he retired from the police after 25 years service.

A devout Catholic, he worshipped at St Philip's Priory in Begbroke and later at St Gregory and St Augustine Catholic Church in Woodstock Road, Oxford. He taught some of the nuns at St Juliana's Convent, in Begbroke, to drive.

He was actively involved in Yarnton Youth Club, Woodstock Bowls Club, and Probus, an association for businessmen and professional people. He was a school governor at William Fletcher Primary School, in Yarnton, where he taught children to play chess. He was also a supporter of Yarnton Children's Home.

He leaves a widow, Joan, daughters Ann and Janet, and five grandchildren.

A requiem mass was being held today at St Gregory and St Augustine, followed by cremation at Oxford Crematorium in Headington.