FRIENDS came up with a fitting tribute to the bravery of a Limefield man who died earlier this year, just three months after he was first diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Paint mixer John Jackson died in March at Bury General Hospital, having been diagnosed with the condition just before Christmas.

Touched by the strength of spirit he had shown, friends and relatives decided to honour Mr Jackson's wish to raise money for the hospital's William Street Ward, where he had been a patient.

Mourners at the funeral donated £500 to a memorial fund for diagnostic equipment, instead of buying flowers.

And drinkers at the Brown Cow pub, Rochdale Old Road, where Mr Jackson was a regular, decided to celebrate what would have been his 53rd birthday with a raffle and auction, raising more than £1,000. Mr Jackson's sister, Carol Eyre, said: "John was really brave and marvellous. I think he comforted us rather than it being the other way around.

"The staff on the ward were just great with him, and I think was a good patient, considering what he went through.

"He noticed that there was a shortage of blood pressure machines before he died, and said it was his aim to raise some money for them, so we just went ahead with it."

With blood pressure machines recently acquired by the ward, the money will now be used to buy a hi-tech hand-held thermometer, and televisions.

A cheque for £1,583 was presented to ward Sister Marie Asburner, and a plaque to commemorate Mr Jackson is planned when the ward moves to Fairfield Hospital.

Mrs Eyre added: "The fund meant a lot to us and we just want to thank everyone who contributed."