Devoted father-of-three Darren Brinkley wanted to ensure his house was ship-shape for his family after doctors told him he had just months to live.Mr Brinkley, 35, was diagnosed with a tumour in his pancreas in February 2008 and in the following months as he fought the illness he completed a series of DIY tasks at the family home in Thetford including fitting a new kitchen and laying decking outside.

Devoted father-of-three Darren Brinkley wanted to ensure his house was ship-shape for his family after doctors told him he had just months to live.

Mr Brinkley, 35, was diagnosed with a tumour in his pancreas in February 2008 and in the following months as he fought the illness he completed a series of DIY tasks at the family home in Thetford including fitting a new kitchen and laying decking outside.

He also had a special reason for wanting to get the tasks completed because two weeks after his cancer was diagnosed his wife Kelly, found out she was pregnant.

Mr Brinkley died on April 21 at the St Nicholas Hospice in Bury St Edmunds and was treated at Thetford's Macmillan Day Unit.

His widow said: “Darren was told he had just months to live but despite his condition he was so determined and try and get the house sorted out for me and the kids. That was so typical of the sort of person he was.”

Mrs Brinkley - who had been married to her husband for nearly 12 years - said that fitting the new kitchen took Darren seven weeks.

“Some days he felt so unwell that he could only manage to hang a door but he was determined to complete it for us,” she said.

Mr Brinkley, of Woodlands Drive, Thetford, was described by his wife as a practical joker who just loved winding up his wife and children.

“He was an amazing dad to our children, Georgia, 10, Harley, two, and six-month-old Dejay and during a time when I had two jobs, Darren would look after our little girl,” she said.

Mrs Brinkley said her husband was such a brave and courageous man in the way he dealt with his illness.

“He fought so hard and he was told he only had months to live but he stayed with us for 14 months and set himself targets to achieve, including seeing our third child being born.”

Mr Brinkley was a carpenter by trade but in recent years had been working in the motor industry. He was appointed parts manager at Desira, near Bury St Edmunds, two months before being diagnosed with cancer. One of his main leisure interests was Formula 1 motor racing.

The funeral was held on May 1 at St Cuthbert's Church, Thetford. Donations were invited for St Nicholas Hospice and the Macmillan Day Unit.