THE devastated family of a popular 24-year-old Nelson man have told how he suddenly died following an eight-year battle with kidney failure.

Billy Uprichard, of Nelson, was taken to Royal Preston Hospital after contracting an infection but died the next day after doctors said it would take him months rather than weeks to recover.

His family have paid tribute to Billy, who they said had a "heart of gold" and loved helping others, especially the elderly. They said despite his illness he was always the one to brighten everybody's day.

Billy developed renal failure when he was just 16 and has been visiting hospital three times a week for dialysis treatment for the last eight years.

His mum Caroline, of Hendon Road, Nelson, said: "He really was a one in a million. He had just got himself well enough to take his motorbike test. He passed and bought himself a scooter which got stolen just weeks after he'd bought it. He was really upset because that bike was his dream and his key to independence but he wasn't the kind of person to let it get to him. He always remained positive whatever life threw at him.

"He was getting ready to enrol for college to study Maths so he could train to be a solicitor. He had to have an IQ test and it revealed that despite him having two strokes he was in the top ten per cent in the country. He was so intelligent, he knew something about everything -- there was never a dull moment with him because he always had something interesting to talk about.

"He had everything to live for. There was so much more in life he wanted to do. We can't come to terms with the fact that he was with us one day and gone the next, it seems so unfair."

Billy, an avid Clarets supporter, went to Walton High School, and was a familiar figure in Nelson because he liked playing pool and loved playing football, until his illness made him too weak to play.

He died in hospital on Wednesday, September 3, after he was admitted the previous day.

His family are now hoping to buy a bench in his memory to put in St John's Church grounds where he went every day with his dog, Taz.

The funeral was held at Burnley Crematorium last Wednesday where hundreds of friends, family and fellow patients packed into the service to pay their last respects.

Two of Billy's favourite songs, Wind Beneath My Wings and Feel by Robbie Williams, were played at his funeral.

Billy leaves his brother Michael, 20, and sister Donna, 17, his two aunties Patricia Turton, and Kathlene Jackson, his nan Carol and his grandad David.

Kathlene said: "He was so unbelievably brave. His kidneys failed when he was just 16 and so he had to undergo lots of operations.

"He was always the one to cheer up the other patients. He took flowers in for the elderly patients and went to see people just after they had their operations no matter how ill he was feeling himself."

Patricia added: "We would like to say a massive thankyou to all the nurses and his friends who came to the funeral they all did him proud.

"Life will never be the same for a lot of people now Billy has gone. He lightened up the lives of so many people.

"Everybody he met he made a lasting impression with his unique and friendly character -- nobody could ever forget Billy once they met him. I know we certainly won't."

The coroner has been informed of the death and the opening date of the inquest has yet to be announced.