THE wife of a man who has died from lung cancer has paid tribute to her husband saying that he was "the love of her life."

Rosemary Denney said husband Roland had fulfilled his dream of having a family before he lost a six month battle with cancer.

The mother-of-three, of Mansfield Crescent, Brierfield, met the 46-year-old electrical engineer in 2001 and they married the following September.

Mrs Denney, who has three boys from a previous marriage said: "All he ever wanted was his own family after being single for a long time.

"He came into the family and became a wonderful father to Lee, Jason and James.

"He was the love of my life, my soul-mate, and I have lost him."

Mr Denney, who worked for Excelsior Technologies, a packaging company, was diagnosed with lung cancer in November after he collapsed in a pub in August.

He had a course of chemotherapy but the cancer returned.

Over the last two weeks of his life his health deteriorated and he was in a lot of pain.

With the help of Macmillan nurses from St Peter's Health Centre, in Burnley, the engineer spent the last 10 days of his life being cared for by his family before he died on the morning of April 26. The 45-year-old housewife said: "I am so greatful to the nurses.

"They brought the hospice into our home and without them he would have been stuck in hospital.

"He died peacefully in his home and he is not in pain any more. Friends and family have been fantastic and I wouldn't have been able to cope without them."

Mr Denney loved doing quizzes and was a member of the Nelson Quiz League. Friend Jacquie Lever, of Bentley Street, said he always had the right answers.

The avid Clarets fan lost his twin brother Richard to cancer three years ago.

Mr Denney's ashes will be scattered next to his brother and mother, Mary, who died last year.