Eileen Steel, 74, of Blackpool Road, Ribbleton, Preston, died suddenly last Monday after collapsing at home with a heart attack.

A day later, the health of her husband Jim, 61, who had been battling long-term illness, deteriorated. He was taken to the Royal Preston Hospital but died on Wednesday.

The couple's devastated twin daughters Janet Manogue and Carol Bamforth, 49, say the couple were utterly devoted to each other.

They say doctors expected Mr Steel, their stepfather, to live for years despite his illness, and that his grief over their mother's death accelerated his decline.

Mrs Manogue said: "He was so devastated he could not even speak and I think that just accelerated his illness. He deteriorated overnight.

"When I had spoken to the doctors last year they were saying he would live four or five years at least. We just did not expect this."

Mr Steel was his wife's second husband. Her first, the sisters' father, died after suffering a heart attack in 1973, two days short of his 39th birthday.

Mr Steel was a lifelong friend of the couple. He and Eileen married in November 1983, seven months after Mrs Manogue married her own husband Keith.

Mrs Bamforth added: "They did not have a wild life, they were just with each other, they did everything together."

Originally from Paisley, Scotland, Mr Steel served in the RAF until around 1990, when he left the service and became a civil servant at the Department for Work and Pensions in Preston. He retired last year.

In 1981 he received a commendation from the air officer commanding in chief of the RAF Support Command in the New Year Honours' List.

Mrs Steel, born and bred in Preston, was a clerical assistant for British Telecom.

Mrs Manogue said: "Mum was one on her own. She was a very funny lady and would do anything for her family.

"My husband said that if you knew Jim you knew the meaning of a true gentleman. He was the sweetest, kindest man you would ever wish to meet."

The couple leave two daughters – twins Janet and Carol – five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.