A DEVOTED dad has spoken of his heartache at losing his Bewdley-born wife and mother of his three children on Christmas Eve - just days after doctors told her she was simply suffering from a flu-like virus.

Joanne Clarke, 38, died on December 24 - the day after being admitted to Dudley’s Russells Hall Hospital. Medics said she died after contracting pneumonia, which led to blood poisoning.

Distraught husband Darren Clarke, of Wollaston, did his best to help children Harry, 9, Tom, 8, and Alice, 4, to get through Christmas Day.

But the 41-year-old said the tragedy had left a huge hole in his life as the couple, who met at work at Yielding Tree Packers in Belbroughton, had been together for 19 years and married for 12.

He said: “Jo was my whole world. It feels like someone has taken half of me away. She was my soul mate and my rock. It was Jo that made me get up in the morning. She touched so many hearts and she could walk into a room and just light it up.”

Forklift truck driver Mr Clarke has since been forced to put his full-time job on hold while he comes to terms with the prospect of having to raise his three youngsters single-handledly.

He said: “It’s hard to adjust but I’ve had lots of support from family and friends - they’ve been absolutely fantastic.”

He also praised his employers for their patience and staff at Russells Hall Hospital for their efforts to save Mrs Clarke’s life, adding: “I can’t praise the nurses on that ward enough - they were absolutely fantastic.”

Friends spoke of their disbelief at Mrs Clarke’s sudden death and paid emotional tributes to the popular housewife.

Emma Cartwright said: “We shared so many happy times together. She was an amazing mother and a perfect friend, not just to me but to everybody she met.”

Claire Farwell added: “Jo was the friendliest mum in the playground. She inspired me to be more considerate and thoughtul and to try to put others first - just like she did.”

As well as her husband and three children, Mrs Clarke is survived by her parents Christine and Tony.

Her funeral will be held at Stourbridge Spiritualist Church, Union Street, Stourbridge, on Friday, January 14, at 11.30am, followed by a service at Stourbridge Crematorium at 12.20pm and a wake at the Gig Mill pub, Norton, at 1pm.