Posthumous honour for Leeds millionaire Jimi Heselden

Mr Heselden suffered multiple injuries in the fall on 26 September

A millionaire who died after falling from a cliff on a Segway scooter made by his own firm has been posthumously awarded the freedom of Leeds.

Jimi Heselden, 62, died from multiple injuries after the incident near his home in Boston Spa last September.

The former miner turned entrepreneur made his fortune with his Leeds-based firm Hesco Bastion.

He was honoured alongside previous recipients of Freedom of the City at a special council meeting on Wednesday.

Mr Heselden made his fortune when his firm developed the "blast wall" basket, which protects soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq, as a replacement for traditional sandbags.

He was reported to have been worth £166m, but was a well-known philanthropist, giving millions of pounds away to charities including the Leeds Community Foundation and Help for Heroes.

Last year Mr Heselden led a British takeover of the US-based Segway company, which makes and distributes the distinctive two-wheeled, self-balancing scooters.

At the meeting a scroll was presented to his family to show the city's appreciation of Mr Heselden's contribution to Leeds.