A ROSYTH man diagnosed with terminal cancer within days of his wife has died at the age of 74.

Michael Smith had celebrated his daughter and grand-daughter completing a 50-mile charity challenge with his family on Sunday but died suddenly the following day.

Broken-hearted daughter Lynn Hastings said the family were absolutely devastated.

"It was all a complete shock as it happened so fast," she said. "We cannot believe it. He will always be in our hearts, he is greatly missed by us all already."

As the Press reported earlier this month, Michael was diagnosed with terminal kidney cancer which had spread to his chest in June just days after his wife Irena, 73, was told she had terminal lung cancer.

The shock news triggered Lynn and her niece, Lauren Smith, to kick-off a charity challenge for Maggie's to raise funds and awareness of the work they do.

The pair pledged to walk 50 miles in September and completed this on Friday, an achievement which Lynn said made her dad – and mum – exceptionally proud.

"He was so happy and my mum was so happy – they were so proud of us doing it," said Lynn. "We finished it on the Friday and we celebrated on the Sunday. He got me to buy champagne and got strawberries. He had the best night ever. It was amazing.

"Our fundraising is not far off the £2,000 mark now. Everyone thinks so highly of my mum and dad, they are just such great people. It is absolutely amazing. We are not going to stop this, we have to keep going with it."

Michael met Irena at the Ballroom and Lynn said it was "love at first sight" for the couple.

They went on to have a son and daughter, Paul and Lynn, two grandchildren, Lauren and Kelsey, and two great-grandchildren, Holly and Nathan.

Michael worked with the MoD Police before moving on to a post with the mobile library service.

"He was an amazing person," added Lynn. "He was the kind of person that always found the positive things in everything. He loved Christmas, it was his best time ever.

"I have been trying to think of all the good memories and there are so many of them. So many of the best bits. Both he and my mum would give you their last pound. That is the kind of people they are."

A funeral service for Michael will take place on October 8 at 10am at the Co-op Funeral Services in Dewar Street.