A WIDOW has paid tribute to her actor husband who she married after falling in love on stage. 

David Diggle, 55, from Park Field, Swarthmoor, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at St Mary's Hospice in Ulverston on March 10. 

He was diagnosed with cancer in May 2013 after seeing a doctor about back pain.

It was discovered he had tumours growing on his spine. 

His wife, Nicky, who he'd been with for 17 years, paid tribute to her "big, strong" husband. 

She said: "We had more time with him than was initially thought - he was fighter. 

"He stayed smiling and had that twinkle in his eye right until the end."

Mr Diggle was well known in the Ulverston area for the roles he played in many productions. 

He had previously performed with Ulverston Amateur Operatics Society, Ulverston Outsiders and most recently the Abbey Musical Society. 

The couple, who married shortly after his cancer diagnosis, fell in love when they were both starring in a production of The Hunchback of Notre-Dame.

Mrs Diggle said: "Neither of us were looking for a relationship but we just clicked. 

"I can't describe how I feel at the moment. It hasn't sunk in yet that he isn't going to be coming home." 

The diagnosis was a shock to both of them but Mrs Diggle remains proud of how her husband dealt with it.

She said: "He just got on with it, he wasn't angry and he never complained."

The couple tied the knot in October 2013 and their pet dog, Shadow, was their best man. 

Mrs Diggle said: "He was very much David's dog. I couldn't have asked for a better wedding day."

Shadow died in November, but before his death Mrs Diggle arranged to take their beloved pet to St Mary's Hospice to say a final goodbye to his owner. 

She said: "I knew that I couldn't take Shadow to the vets without David seeing him one more time. 

"We took him up there and he got to spend two hours with him. 

"David gave me a wonderful life and I couldn't have asked for a better partner. 

"He supported me throughout, and was a great stepfather to my two children, Natalie and James. He will be greatly missed."

Mrs Diggle wanted to thank the staff at St Mary's Hospice and the team from Lakeland Care for being "absolutely fantastic".

She said: "I couldn't have coped with it all without them."  

The funeral for Mr Diggle will be held on Monday at Ulverston Methodist Church at 11.30am.

Donations are being made to St Mary's Hospice.