A YOUNG mum whose fiance fell to his death from a London hotel room today revealed she would lay him to rest on St Valentine's Day because he was the man who captured her heart.

"I've lost the love of my life." said Dawn Huggard about her fiance Victor Docherty.

Mr Docherty, 35, who worked as a bouncer in Burnley and Blackburn, fell from the fourth floor of the Hotel Angela in Hammersmith on Sunday morning. A self-employed plasterer, he had gone to London to work.

Police investigations are continuing into what caused the fall.

Dawn, 28, of Rising Bridge, met Mr Docherty in April last year, and the couple became inseparable. They got engaged last August, and were due to get married on August 26 this year.

Miss Huggard, mum to Hayden, 10, and three-year-old Libby, said: "I knew who Vic was because he was so well known. Everybody around here knows him. But when we got together, we just clicked, it was immediate for both of us. We had finally found the one we were meant to be with. We both knew we'd look after each other for the rest of our lives."

Although he had a property in Lumb, Mr Docherty spent all of his time at his fiancee's house in Roundhill View, Rising Bridge.

Miss Huggard, a nurse, said: "I have two children from a previous relationship, and Vic adored them, and they him. He loved and treated them as if they were his own and he really brought out the fun and laughter in them. They always wanted to settle down and watch TV with Daddy Vic'. He was so sensitive and caring as well as full of fun.

"He took Hayden running with him, and helped him with his homework. Hayden hopes to get into Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School because it's what Vic wanted for him, but he said he'll work hard at any school he goes to, because of Vic."

A keen sportsman and Manchester City fan, Mr Docherty earned the nickname "Boom-boom" when he was a star member of the Haslingden-based Lancashire Constabulary boxing club, at one time ranking third in England for amateur boxing. He joined the club soon after moving to the Valley from Blackley, Manchester, when he was a teenager, and boxed for them until he retired a few years ago.

He also previously played basketball for Rossendale and had recently joined Hyndburn basketball club. He was also very well known in the Valley from working as a bouncer at several places, including the Royal Hotel in Waterfoot, as well as in Burnley, Blackburn and Todmorden.

Miss Hubbard said above all she would remember her fiance for his irrepressible love of life.

She said: "Vic was such a popular person, a lot of people knew him and really liked him, because he was such good fun to be around, he was genuine and always wanted to have a laugh and a joke, and for people to be happy. He made friends absolutely everywhere he went, and he'd be happy to know how many of them are supporting me now.

"But although many people knew him, he was actually a very private person, and I was one of very few people to know the real Vic. I feel so privileged to be able to say that. We didn't really have long together, but I will cherish every moment of it, and those memories will keep me going. I'm glad at least that he died knowing he was loved."

Mr Docherty's funeral will be held on Valentine's Day, with a service at 1.30pm at St John's Church off Manchester Road, Baxenden, followed by a wake at Waterfoot Social Club, where he was a regular.

Miss Hubbard said: "I wanted to have the funeral on February 14 because he was the love of my life, and also because we got together on April 14. He is being buried at St John's because that's where we were going to be married. It will be a hard day for me, but I'm determined to celebrate his life."

For further details, contact Fred Hamer Funeral Services in Rawtenstall on 01706 215721.

Previous articles have incorrectly stated that Mr Docherty was 36, and that he had gone to watch Burnley Football Club play QPR when he was in London. We apologise for any distress caused.