Dr Hans Lichtenstein, former Llandrindod Wells family doctor who co-founded The Bracken Trust, has died aged 91.

A significant figure in the town and surrounding area, Dr Hans was the local GP for 32 years until he retired in 1994.

Dr Hans, a grandfather of 10, passed away in Cambridge on January 3 surrounded by his family.

"He was heroic to the end. He lived a very, very full and energetic life," his daughter Jane said.

Dr Hans had set up The Bracken Trust, a Mid Wales-based charity which supports people affected by cancer, with his wife Beryl, a nurse and artist who was a a cancer patient. Together with former Macmillan nurse, Grace Lawrence, they had set up a day centre for cancer patients in Llandrindod Wells in the 1995.

The Bracken Trust have paid tribute to Dr Hans saying he was an "inspirational man who would go out of his way to help others".

A spokesperson said: "Over the years The Bracken Trust has supported thousands of patients and their families, and currently supports 253 patients and their families, most of whom come from Mid Wales. This support would not have been available if it was not for the foresight of Dr Hans, his wife Beryl and Grace Lawrence. Their vision was of a holistic approach to Cancer, uniting orthodox medical care and complementary therapies with self-help techniques and generally making Cancer less scary.

"Dr Hans will be sadly missed by his family and friends and all who had the good fortune to know and be helped by him over the years."

A very active person well into his 80s, Dr Hans was regularly seen cycling around the town and was known locally as the 'Flying Doctor'. He ran his first London Marathon at 62 years old and ran it again a year later. He was very proud to run the Berlin Marathon in 1990 which was the first to be held after the Berlin Wall came down.

After he retired, at 67 years old, Dr Hans went to to work as a locum in a makeshift hospital in Mostar in Bosnia during the Bosnian War where he also helped drive relief convoys and supplies to those in need.

He was interested in the arts and was an accomplished flautist. In his retirement he kept his mind active in many ways including a course at the Open University in Ancient Greek.

Dr Hans was 12 years old when he came to the UK from Germany as a refugee on the Kindertransport during the 1930s.

He was evacuated to Llysdinam, near Llandrindod Wells during the Second World War. It was there, Jane says, that he "fell in love with Mid Wales".

A Quaker charity paid for his education and sent him to a preparatory school in Devon and Gordonstoun School in Scotland. After he had qualified as a doctor, Dr Hans was sent to Malaya (now Malaysia) with the SAS where he met Beryl who was working as a nurse.

He later became a GP in Llandrindod Wells in 1962 where he brought up his five children and a sixth who died in infancy. A much loved and respected person, who with Beryl and their children, lived in Llandrindod Wells for more than 50 years before moving to Cambridge to be nearer his family.

The date for a memorial service at Holy Trinity Church, Llandrindod Wells, will be announced shortly.