Kenneth Thornton, 61, died when he fell while working to install television equipment at a house in Downland Way, Parr.

Paramedics battled to save the 61-year-old grandfather's life but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Family and friends have laid floral tributes outside the house where Mr Thornton's died last Friday afternoon (July 18).

His girlfriend Debra Thomas described him as a hard-working and loving family man.

She said: "His loved ones were always his priority, he worked and lived for us all really. So many people knew him and respected him.

"He was so good at his job, he knew it like the back of his hand. We think he could have suffered some sort of dizzy spell, triggered by his diabetes shortly before he fell."

Despite suffering from type one diabetes, Mr Thornton had run a thriving business, Thornton Aerials, for the past 40 years from his home on Balmoral Avenue, Sutton.

He lost his wife Elsie to cancer but met Debra four years ago through his 18-year-old granddaughter Kelly Thornton.

Debra, 45, said: "We were introduced and things went from there really. When he took me on he took my whole family on which was wonderful."

He leaves five children, Hesketh, Stephen, Gary, Paula and Barry Thornton, and 10 grandchildren. He was close to Ms Thomas's five sons, her daughter Kelly Shinks and granddaughter Maisy Swift.

She added: "I absolutely loved and adored him and I don't think I will ever meet anyone else like him."
An inquest was opened and adjourned yesterday (Tuesday).

* His funeral will be held on Friday (August 1) at St Helens Crematorium and he will be buried next to his late wife.