Stuart Cave, aged 33 and partner of former Emmerdale actress Ruth Abram, had shown no signs of major illness before he lost consciousness in a Tenerife hotel on New Year's Eve.

His heartbroken girlfriend of three years, daughter of Preston councillors Christine and Norman Abram, paid tribute to her "best friend" and "my beautiful boy".

Ruth, 28, who shot to fame as Jess Watson in the ITV soap and lived with Stuart in Hutton, near Preston, said she would always cherish the ring Stuart bought her for Christmas, just days before the tragedy.

She said: "There aren't words to describe him - he was just a wonderful, wonderful person. He was my life.

"He had a good sense of humour. He was never miserable and never moaned.

"Stuart was always telling really rubbish jokes and laughing at his own jokes.

"He was just beautiful, everything about him was just beautiful."

The couple were holidaying in the resort of Playa de las Americas with Ruth's parents, older sister Kate, and her husband, Nigel Hunter, as a Christmas treat.

Stuart, who worked for Leyland Trucks, was suffering from sickness when the party left Manchester Airport last Friday for a week-long break.

But he felt better the next day and enjoyed a Chinese meal with his girlfriend and the rest of the family.

It was 7am the next morning, New Year's Eve, that the holiday turned to tragedy when Ruth woke to find her boyfriend unconscious. Desperate attempts by Nigel and a fellow hotel guest to revive him were unsuccessful.

Ruth and her mother flew home later that day but her father, Norman, is still in Tenerife with Kate and Nigel, waiting for the body to be released.

A spokesman for the British Consulate in Santa Cruz, Tenerife, confirmed a post mortem examination had taken place but he had no information about the cause of death.

Stuart's parents, Jean and Jack, are trying to come to terms with their loss at their home in Longton, near Preston, along with his elder sister, Joanne, and Stuart's much-loved niece, Chloe, four.

A tearful Mr Cave said he was looking forward to his son and Ruth starting a family in the future.

He said: "He was a wonderful boy. He loved people and he'd do anything for anybody.

"We can't put it into words how much we loved him and how much he'll be missed."

Mrs Abram, leader of the Liberal Democrat group in Preston, said: "We loved him. He was part of our family."

Liverpool fan Stuart, who attended Priory Sports and Technology College, loved films, music, computers and motorsport.

He enjoyed socialising at the Time Square pub in Fylde Road, and was also a dab hand at DIY.

Ruth, a children's worker for the Preston Women's Refuge, said: "He was kind and considerate and would always help his friends out.

"He was open with his affection with his friends. He would hug them and tell them how much he loved them."