A DOTING dad has lost his battle with cancer just hours before his wedding.

Steven Logan was only diagnosed with lung cancer in July and he and partner of 15 years Kate Rodgers had planned to marry in the coming spring.

But after showing early signs of recovery, thanks to intensive chemotherapy, dad-of-six Mr Logan suddenly began a steep decline in November after learning the disease had spread to his liver.

And as the health ebbed away of the 20-stone bricklayer, described by his fiancee as a 'gentle giant', she desperately tried to bring forward their wedding, so they could be married at their Baildon home.

"I'd sorted it with the registrar who was happy to come out and marry us the next day," said Miss Rodgers, 32.

"I had to go and pick up the licences in the morning, but Steven was so ill, struggling with his breath, that I couldn't leave him and he died at lunchtime.

"He had always managed to get himself up and into a chair, but that morning we were just together in bed and he faded away.

"Typically his last words to me were making sure our children got their Christmas presents okay."

The couple have two sons Billy, aged nine, Jack, six, and daughter Macey-Jayne, four, while Mr Logan, 47, also had three grown-up children from a previous marriage and four grandchildren.

Miss Rodgers said: "We told ours what was wrong, but that daddy was always going to get better - and he really believed that too.

"Now they know he's in heaven - the brightest star in the sky is what we call him.

"And they even have a telescope to look for that brightest star."

Every night the youngsters write short letters to their father which are then set alight.

"The smoke goes up, so they know he can read them in heaven," their mum said.

"It all happened so quickly it's been a blur.

"Steven wasn't the kind to admit being poorly, but when he did go to the doctors they gave huge doses of chemotherapy at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

" But they couldn't stop it spreading to his liver.

"Steven was a strong, fit man who worked hard and loved country walking, but he was also a smoker and it does get you."

When news of his illness broke, friends and family rallied round to organise fundraising events to pay for the couple's planned spring wedding.

One of Steven's schoolmates, Maria Crump explained how people had come together to help.

"We organised a couple of nights out to raise money and also people had promised to donate a wedding cake, hire cars and even a double decker bus for the big day.

"But sadly now any money raised will be going to pay for Steven's funeral on January 9 at Nab Wood Cemetery," she said.

A final night in aid of that cause takes place on Saturday, February 7, with a fancy dress pub tour round Shipley and live band. Details can be found by emailing: mariach1000ft@gmail.com

Miss Rodgers said she was determined the funeral would be a celebration of Mr Logan's life.

"He loved music and especially reggae so we will play some Bob Marley for him.

"Steven was a great big man, but so kind and gentle - any more laid back and he'd have been asleep.

"He would do anything for people, but the main thing in his life was being a family man who loved nothing more than spending time with his kids and grandchildren.

"In the last few month he had reunions with family members he'd not seen for ages and that was so important to him.

"Now I've got to keep going strong for our children.

"We'd meant to get married many times over the years. We never got round to it and now it's too late.

"One more day and we'd have made it, but now I'm planning Steven's funeral.

"But I will still take his name and I will have his ashes made into a wedding ring I'll wear forever."