STEVE Burry never had children of his own, but lived to become the head of a huge Swindon dynasty.

Because Steve, who died of lung cancer aged 51 on Monday, took on responsibility for six stepdaughters and a stepson when he married his widow Gladys, 62, on March 3, 1979.

They went on to have a grand total of 16 grandchildren and one great-grandson, all of whom Steve looked after and spoiled rotten.

"He was always very, very good with children," said his stepdaughter Liz Knott, 43. He was a brilliant husband and a brilliant stepfather."

Steve worked at Pressed Steel's panel pressing plant for 15 years and most recently as a ground worker for building firm Black Horse Contractors.

Not content with cutting his own lawn at Hathaway Road in Upper Stratton, he would often go on to do three or four neighbours' gardens as well.

Steve's funeral was being held at Kingsdown crematorium at 1pm today (Tuesday), and his family is asking mourners to make a donation to MacMillan Cancer Relief.