A WIDOW today paid tribute to her husband's bravery in the face of death after he had a heart attack at the wheel -- but pulled over to save others.

Maria Hodgson, of Cambridge Street, Great Harwood, flew home from a holiday in Spain after the death of 43-year-old Nicholas, who had seemed in good health.

Mr Hodgson, a father of three, was driving his Ford Escort in busy Ramsgreave Road, Brownhill, Blackburn, at 12.30pm on Saturday when he had the heart attack.

He was praised by police after managing to pull over to the side of the road as his final act, preventing an accident.

Mrs Hodgson, 39, a senior support worker, praised the two motorists who tried to resuscitate him at the side of the road and said: "God spared another accident by him pulling over. It could have been a family travelling on the other side of the road.

"He was always quite concerned about the way he drove.

"He was a quiet man. He never went out much and didn't like drinking. He loved his home. He was always laughing and joking and got on with everybody."

Mrs Hodgson and the children, Michael, 18, who has come home on compassionate leave from Cyprus with the Queen's Lancashire Regiment, Paul, 17, and Leanna, 15, a pupil of St. Augustine's High School, Billington, cannot believe what has happened.

She said: "It has not hit us yet. We are all so devastated. I feel it is all a dream and that I will wake up and he will be here." Mr Hodgson had worked as a porter at Queen's Park Hospital, but had been a house husband for two years.

He had an ear infection and high cholesterol, which had caused him to adjust his diet.

But Mrs Hodgson said: "He had only been to the doctors about five times in his life. He was never ill.

"The last time I saw him he was fine."

Mrs Hodgson had been on holiday in Spain with friends when he died. She was contacted by relatives and flew straight back home.

The funeral service will be on Monday at 10.30am at St. Hubert's Church and burial at Great Harwood Cemetery at 11am.