Seven brothers and sisters are to be tested for epilepsy after their pregnant mum died suddenly of a seizure when on holiday in Scarborough.

Joanne Crossley collapsed on October 26, last year, the last day of her week away with her husband Paul and five youngest children – Thomas, Jake, Ellie, Abbie and Daniel – aged between two and 12.

Their 39-year-old mum was five months pregnant with a baby girl.

A coroner in Scarborough, who recorded a verdict of natural causes, recommended that the children were tested for the condition.

Mr Crossley, 44, who has given up his screen printing job in Keighley to look after his children, said they were devastated by their mum’s loss.

“It’s been a big blow and we are having to come to terms with living without her,” said Mr Crossley of Royd House Way, Long Lee, Keighley.

The couple, who had been together for 23 years, married five years ago.

Joanne did not have a history of epilepsy, but three months before the fatal seizure, she had suffered an episode, he said.

His wife, who was a Beaver leader with Long Lee Scouts, had always wanted eight children, he said.

On the day she died the couple, and their five youngest, were preparing to come home when Mrs Crossley collapsed.

His son Shane, 19, who has a 21 year-old sister Cheryl, said: “Mum was a wonderful woman. She loved us and dedicated her life to us. She put everybody else before herself.”

Aimee Gee, of Epilepsy Action, said: “There isn’t a genetic test in general for epilepsy. Diagnostic tests are available, such as measuring electrical activity in the brain (EEG) and brain scans, such as MRI.

“However, these would only be used in someone who had experienced seizures. They cannot predict whether someone will develop epilepsy in the future.”

About 1,000 people die of epilepsy each year.