A popular mechanic and stuntman has died at the age of 83.

Ken Sheppard, who was born in Chessington in Surrey, spent most of his life living dangerously as a stuntman at Elstree Studios in Borehamwood.

Mr Sheppard moved to Borehamwood around 1957 to buy a house, as they were building them in the area.

He then opened a garage in Borehamwood and one in Shenley working for the former long-standing McLaren boss Ron Dennis.

His daughter Dawn Bell said: “My father was a charismatic and funny man. If you met him once you would never forget him.

“He gave us the most wonderful childhood. When I was about 10 or 11 he built us a car for us to drive around his garage land.

“He went on to do Formula 1 racing and back in those days you had to win so many races to get sponsorship.

“During one of the races somebody knocked into the back of my father’s car and that ended his Formula 1 career.”

Mr Sheppard also owned the garage at the end of Shenley Road.

His daughter remembers one day Roger Moore, who was filming The Saint at Elstree Studios, came into the garage.

Because the garage was so close to the studios, they required a particular car and Mr Sheppard was asked to make cars for the studios.

Mrs Bell said: “Once somebody was trying to roll a lorry and couldn’t manage it. My father said he could do it.

“Because he was a Royal Engineer my father was able to roll the lorry. He then signed up for the stunt register.

“He had a dangerous life. He was very well-known in Borehamwood and Elstree.”

Mr Sheppard was the body double for many famous celebrities including Meatloaf in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, John Wayne and many others.

Mr Sheppard died from old age on January 6.