A husband today spoke of his devastation as his wife lost her long battle against cancer.

Stuart Andrews was by his wife Barbara's side during her final moments at Bradford's Marie Curie Cancer Care Unit where she was being cared for during her fight against a brain tumour.

Stuart told how he gently spoke to his 35-year-old wife after she finally succumbed to the disease in the early hours of the morning.

"I told her that her dad had come for her and to go with him because she'd be safe. I also told her our daughters would be safe," said Stuart, who has been caring for eight-year-old Katie and five-year-old twins Sarah and Rebecca at their home in Allerton since Barbara went into the centre last month.

Barbara helped choose the girl's birthday presents ready for when they reach 18 and 21 - knowing she wouldn't live long enough to enjoy their special days with them.

But Stuart admitted to feeling numb and has penned a heart-rending letter to help him come to terms with his wife's death.

That, along with locks of their daughters' hair, was to be placed inside her coffin for today's funeral service at Nab Wood Crematorium.

Stuart, 39, revealed how his letter told of his pain.

He wrote: "Words cannot say how much I am missing you and while you were here I could never imagine how much hurt and sorrow I would feel now that you've gone.

"I am sat here with tears in my eyes looking at photographs of you, knowing I will never feel you in my arms again and it hurts.

"I love you so much Barbara and I am sure you knew that. I certainly know you loved me and I am sure it's Katie's, Sarah's and Rebecca's and my love for you that will get us through the dark days to come."

The family's trauma began in February 2001 when Barbara started getting headaches and being sick.

She went to see her doctor and it was initially thought she had a virus. But, when her condition worsened, tests revealed it was a brain tumour.

The tumour could not be removed. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy were used to shrink it, but the couple were forced to face up to the fact that Barbara could never be cured.

Stuart refused to let Barbara fight the cancer on her own. "When her hair started dropping out I shaved my head," he said.

And, because Barbara loved travelling, they packed in as many holidays as they could, including a dream trip to Disneyworld in Florida.

Stuart said they couldn't have coped if it hadn't been for the support of family, friends, neighbours and work colleagues.

The family is supporting the Marie Curie charity's latest fundraising initiative - a CD specially compiled by Marie Curie nurse Jenny White, with the help of pupils from Allerton Primary, the school Barbara and Stuart's daughters attend.

The CD, which features six tracks written by Jenny and one written by her daughters, ten-year-old Lucy and eight-year-old Esther, was launched at the school last Wednesday.

It costs £5 and is available from the school or the fundraising department at the Marie Curie Cancer Care hospice in Leeds Road, Bradford.