A heartbroken family today paid tribute to the bravery of a 35-year-old man as he vainly fought brain cancer.

Andrew Coulston, of Thornbury, Bradford, has died after a year-long battle.

But his mother and sister told how he had joked with nurses and kept strong to the end for the sake of his family.

Fit and active Andrew, a packer with a car parts firm in Bradford, became ill last April. His sister, Julie, 31, told how Andrew, who lived with his 68-year-old mother Shirley, had been suffering severe headaches and started to drop things.

He went to Bradford Royal Infirmary after having a fall at home but was discharged when a virus was diagnosed.

But when he collapsed and fell out of the taxi. His family called an ambulance and he was taken back to hospital.

A brain scan at Leeds General Infirmary revealed a tumour. Julie said: "He had a big operation to remove the tumour but they had to leave some of it because it was attached to healthy cells."

A week later he was diagnosed with a Grade 4 Glioblastoma Multiforme, the most aggressive form of brain cancer.

Julie said: "They told him there was nothing they could do and he had between three months and two years to live.

"I don't think he could believe it at first, but it sunk in the next day.

"But right from the start he was very brave. He was determined not to break down and he never did. He said he was going to beat it."

Andrew underwent radiotherapy at Cookridge Hospital in Leeds. He also had to take steroids which caused his weight to balloon, but his condition stabilised.

But in March Andrew had another fall at home and complained of pains in his neck.

He was admitted to the Marie Curie Hospice in Bradford, where he stayed for five weeks until his death.

"Mum went to see him every day and I went every other day," said Julie. "He wasn't well but he was still very brave and was always joking with the nurses, he had them in stitches."

She added: "For the last three weeks he was bedridden and couldn't swallow, but his spirit was still coming through and he was still saying it wasn't going to beat him. He never gave up. In the end he died peacefully and all the family was with him."

Andrew, who leaves three sisters - Julie, Janet, 44, and Jackie, 45 - worked all his life as a packer after leaving a boarding school near Doncaster. He enjoyed swimming and going to the gym, and was popular with workmates and his many friends.

Julie said: "He was a very private person and really liked his independence. If you offered him a lift he would prefer to go by bus.

"He enjoyed going on day trips with his pals to places like Blackpool but he often went on holiday on his own because he said he could then do what he wanted. He often went to Ireland, and Dublin in particular.

"He was very fit and active. He was 6ft tall and about 12 stone. And he had a massive appetite, he could sometimes eat three Chinese takeaways in one night." Julie added: "He worked hard, he never had time off work, even when he had a cold. His life revolved around his work and his home.

"He had a dry sense of humour - he even told us not to bring the pet dog to the funeral in case it weed on the flowers."

Andrew's mother, Shirley, said it was a tragedy her son had died so young.

She said: "He had all his life before him. They don't know what caused it. It can strike anybody at anytime.

"It is a terrible illness, devastating. The whole family has found it hard to bear and to be told how long you have got to live is a nightmare."

Andrew's funeral takes place at St. Margaret's Church, Thornbury, on Tuesday. He will then be buried at Undercliffe Cemetery at his own request, because he said he was too young to be cremated.

The family has asked for any donations to be made to the Marie Curie Hospice.