A GRIEVING widow whose husband died after being paralysed from the neck down in a car crash has paid tribute to a wonderful husband, father and grandfather.

Raymond Brownlow died of a bronchial haemorrhage exactly 11 weeks after he was airlifted to Selly Oak Hospital following a car accident on the A442 Bridgnorth Road, near Honeybrook Stud.

His devoted wife, Margaret, said she and her Stourport born-and-bred husband had just returned home from a holiday in Spain when the collision occurred as he drove home from work, and had been looking forward to celebrating their ruby wedding anniversary next year with a holiday to Fuerteventura.

They were also due to welcome in the New Year in London after celebrating their 60th birthdays in June with a dream holiday to America, as Mr Brownlow had always wanted to visit the Grand Canyon.

Mother-of-two and grandmother-of-one, Mrs Brownlow, of Prospect Road, said her husband's death at 10.45pm on Tuesday, December 14, had devastated their family and friends.

He doted on their 16-month-old grandson, Sean, and was looking forward to the arrival of a second grandchild in April.

She added they had been hoping he could eventually return home in a wheelchair.

"I am really devastated by what's happened because we had such a lot to look forward to in our retirement," she said.

"Even on Tuesday morning we were making arrangements to have the garden taken in and get a bigger car."

Mrs Brownlow said her husband was a hard worker and she had been inundated with condolence letters and phone calls from his former colleagues.

"He was a very good husband and father and loved his garden and holidays," she said,

"He did everything around the home and I shall miss him terribly."

A service is being held at Worcester Crematorium at 10.30am tomorrow.

The family is requesting mourners make donations to the County Air Ambulance instead of buying flowers.