TRIBUTES have been paid to a 53-year-old man who family say ‘died of a broken heart’.

Anthony Alan Morris, known as Tony, had a heart attack in his Blackburn home just seven months after his wife Patricia died from a rare form of eye cancer.

Engineer Tony ‘doted on’ Patricia for 20 years and now his two children and three stepchildren have paid tribute to the ‘proud Lancashire man’.

Stepdaughter Kate Hargreaves said: “The only comfort we’re finding in this is the fact that him and mum are back together again now.

“This wasn’t expected at all and we’re all in shock but maybe it’s just that they were meant to be back together.

“We believe because they loved each other so much that life has a way of bringing them back together... as sad as that is, there is an endearing side which is giving us as a family comfort.

“The police actually advised us it may be that he died of a broken heart and couldn’t live without my mum.” 

His daughter Shelley said: “Dad had a heart of gold and had the wittiest sense of humour.

“I will miss him forever.”

He was also a grandfather to seven grandchildren, Tyler, Jake, Ted, Max, Layla, Mayah and Kaycee.

Tony’s wife Patricia, who died in August, had been battling a rare form of eye cancer up until her death - a battle which was fought with Tony by her side every step of the way.

Ms Hargreaves said: “The way he cared so gently and beautifully for mum blew me away. 

“In the most heart-wrenching time, he managed somehow to hold us all together and keep mum smiling until the end.

“I am proud to call him my stepdad.”

His daughter Nikki added that he ‘had the best sense of humour and could light up a room in seconds.’

Tony’s funeral will be held at St Silas Church on Thursday and everyone is invited to come and celebrate his life. 

Donations to the British Heart Foundation are requested over flowers.