RELATIVES have been left "devastated" following the death of Hagley grandfather Paul Whyley whose poignant story of his shock diagnosis with motor neurone disease touched hearts across the country.

Mr Whyley, aged 62, died on Saturday October 17 - just seven months after discovering he was suffering with the same affliction that has crippled scientist Stephen Hawking for 50 years.

For father-of-two Mr Whyley, however, the progression of the ravaging disease - which damages the nerves and causes extreme muscle weakness - was lightning fast.

Earlier this year as he watched the award-winning Stephen Hawking biopic The Theory of Everything - Mr Whyley mentally ticked off the symptoms of the illness and realised he had them all.

Two weeks later, in March, the keen light aircraft pilot was given the heartbreaking diagnosis that he was suffering from the same consuming condition as Hawking.

Due to his late diagnosis, his quality of life deteriorated rapidly - leaving his family struggling to cope - so an appeal was launched in the News in June and around £9,000 was raised to help buy equipment to make his final months at home more comfortable.

After hearing about the family's plight, a kind-hearted man from Norwich also loaned a motorised chair and car hoist, worth around £5,000, which upon Mr Whyley's passing was to be donated to another motor neurone disease patient.

Sister-in-law Glynis Palmer, who spearheaded the fundraising drive, said the family had been "devastated" by his death.

She said: "I think we all thought he was going to be here for Christmas.

"Paul was absolutely brilliant. He was very much a family man and he was everybody's friend. He had a very dry sense of humour. If you needed some help or wanted something done Paul would always be there. He'd go out of his way to help people."

Mr Whyley and wife Jayne, who met in 1972 while working at the County Express - forerunner to the Stourbridge News, were able to celebrate their ruby wedding anniversary earlier this year with a trip to the Forest of Dean with their two daughters, Lauren Barnett and Heather Roberts, and four grandchildren - Isabella, Valentina, Rufus and William.

But the illness took its toll on the former blind fitter - forcing him to quit running his own business Spinnaker Visibility and leaving Jayne no alternative but to take voluntary redundancy from her job as practice administrator at Hagley doctors' surgery to care for him.

Daughter Heather also delayed moving to Colombia with her husband Nick, who works for the Foreign Office, to spend time with her father.

She finally flew out on October 7 only to be called back ten days later after hearing he had passed away with wife Jayne and daughter Lauren at his bedside.

Glynis, from Pedmore, said: "It's just devastating. He and Jayne were still as much in love as the day they met and the kids and grandkids were his world."

Heartbroken Jayne, aged 59, told the News: "He was an amazing father and 'papa' to his four grandchildren. He loved us more every day.

"He's been everything to the girls and me. I just don't know why this happened."

She said the cruellest thing about the "vile" disease was that "he couldn't touch us". She said: "It broke his heart, we could see the pain in his eyes. That was the thing that hurt him most - that he couldn't comfort us with hugs when he was poorly."

As well as his wife, daughters and grandchildren - Mr Whyley is survived by a sister Sandra and his mother Megan.

His funeral will be held at Stourbridge Crematorium on Wednesday October 28 at 2.10pm and a wake will follow at The Lyttleton Arms in Hagley.

Anyone who could benefit from the equipment which the family is donating can contact Glynis on 01384 375410 or 07791 293131.