Cancer sufferer Ashley Tyler died hours after fulfilling his dream of marrying his childhood sweetheart.

His new wife Stephanie hoped Ashley's other wish - that the couple have a baby - would come true as she prepared to start IVF treatment.

The young couple, of Smallthorne in Stoke, were planning to marry in March but had to bring their wedding forward when the cancer spread to Ashley's brain and he was given hours to live.

Nurses at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire rallied round to arrange flowers and a cake, a registrar was put on standby and Stephanie rushed out to buy their rings before the bedside wedding on Monday, 27 October, 2008.

Ashley, aged 20, managed to say his vows and even crack a joke before passing away peacefully in the early hours of Tuesday.

Stephanie, aged 22, said: "I just wanted to marry him and didn't care where it was. It was a race against time to get everything ready but in the end everyone rallied round and it went really smoothly.

"I wore my work suit because Ashley always liked me in that. About 40 people packed the intensive care room and Ashley said vows perfectly, he even made everyone laugh by looking round when the registrar asked if anyone had any objections as if to say 'you dare'.

"I will always remember my wedding day and it was made more special because of how everyone went to such lengths to help and make it a lovely event."

Ashley, a construction student at Burslem College, was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer, in his leg and lungs three years previously, after suffering leg pains and problems breathing.

After 12 months of intensive chemotherapy and an operation to replace his femur with a metal rod, he went into remission and hoped he had won the battle.

His family were given the devastating news the cancer had returned in December 2007 and a further six months of treatment kept the tumours at bay.

But in September more tumours were discovered. Then, in October, doctors broke the news they had spread to Ashley's brain and he was admitted to hospital for the final time on October 24.

His family planned a funeral with a horse-drawn carriage and coffin decked out in Manchester United's colours next week.

Stephanie was keeping positive by looking forward to having the baby she and Ashley dreamt of.

Stephanie said: "We decided to start the IVF process when he was in remission earlier this year but it got put on hold when Ashley got ill again.

"I just want to have something of Ashley. I can imagine him looking down and being really proud."

Ashley's mum Rachel Roberts, of Cheadle, said: "It was a real shock when the doctors said he wasn't going to survive this time, but I think he hung on to get married, it kept him going.

"It was a real emotional rollercoaster, everyone was crying, even the nurses, but the wedding means we can now remember the day with happiness as well as sadness.

"It was so cruel that he was taken, but I'm relieved he died peacefully and with dignity, and at the end he was happy."