THE wife of a man who died of a heart attack at the age of 41 has paid tribute to him as a "happy-go-lucky" character.

Karen Watson's husband, Kevin, died suddenly on Tuesday after waking up with what he thought was heart burn.

Mrs Watson, of Thompson Street West, said: "Kevin was so happy-go-lucky and full of life. I have loads of happy memories that I shared with him."

Mr Watson, who ran his own painting and decorating business in the town, was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital with pains in his chest and arms.

"He walked into the hospital and climbed on to a bed himself and then closed his eyes and that was that," said Mrs Watson. "I was busy giving the staff his name and address when I realised doctors began working on him.

"The coroner later told us he had had a heart murmur, which he probably developed at birth."

Mrs Watson was born three days before her future husband in the same hospital.

Their families, from Darlington, became friends and the pair knew each other for years, and had children from previous marriages, before striking up a relationship in 1993. They married in April 2000.

Mr Watson was a Middlesbrough Football Club supporter and enjoyed darts and pool, captaining The Burns pub pool team.

He had two children Natalie, 16, and Daniel, 13, from his first marriage. He was a father-figure to Mrs Watson's children Vicky, 23, Gavin, 20, and Shelly, 17 and also has a granddaughter, Paige.

His funeral will take place at 11am on Tuesday, at Northlands Methodist Church, followed by a service at the crematorium at 11.45am.