AN ULVERSTON mother has been left 'heartbroken' after her husband lost his three-year battle with motor neurone disease.

Courageous father-of-two Paul Coulston, 40, died on Saturday (August 29) with his wife Clare and brother Alan by his side.

The former deputy headteacher had taken part in a clinical trial and campaigned to raise awareness of the condition following his diagnosis in April 2012.

Having already faced the devastating discovery in 2009 that Mrs Coulston had oesophageal cancer, the couple caught the nation's attention as they were forced to make guardianship arrangements for their children.

Taking to Facebook to thank hundreds for their messages of sympathy, policewoman Mrs Coulston, 39, wrote: "He (Paul) leaves behind a huge hole in our lives but also 19 years of wonderful memories that can never be taken away."

A fundraising website set up to support the couple's children crashed after Mr Coulston's sister-in-law Elaine Hudson announced the tragic news.

In a tribute posted on Facebook, Ms Hudson, said: "We are all still in complete shock.

"Paul touched so many people's lives and fought hard over the past few years to raise awareness of motor neurone disease and took place in a gruelling clinical trial to help find a cure for others.

"He will be missed so much by his wife Clare and his two children Finlay and Evelyn and his mother, brother and sister.

"He was such an amazing, loving husband, father, son and brother."

The post attracted a wave of support with 385 Facebook users sending their kind words to the family.

Thanking the public 'from the bottom of their hearts', Ms Hudson added: "The family would like to thank every single one of you who donated money or prizes for Paul at the various fundraising events we held.

"It really did make a huge difference to his quality of life.

"He was able to have the house adapted, buy an off road electric wheelchair so he could go out with the children and the whole family had an unforgettable holiday to DisneyWorld.

"Precious memories that will last forever were created for Fin and Evelyn and Paul's life was made so much more comfortable by your generosity."

Ms Hudson added Mr Coulston, who was given three to five years to live in 2012, spent his final week in Northumberland on holiday with his family.