A MAN facing bills of nearly £120,000 for his wife's medical treatment has been admitted to hospital after being taken ill following her death.

Peter Morley, of Bolton Road, Blackburn, was ordered to Blackburn Royal Infirmary by doctors after his wife, Phoebe, passed away on Thursday.

He had been at his wife's bedside with other members of the family when Phoebe died but was later told by doctors that he also needed hospital care.

The 60-year-old had been notified earlier in the week that the Florida Hospital in Orlando will be seeking to recover from him the £114,502 for his wife's medical expenses.

The family are now taking legal advice. His daughter Susan Wilson said: "We are having great difficulty coping with all thAT has happened.

"My dad has been having problems with his kidneys. The doctors took him into hospital and kept him there. Some of it is due to stress but he has had trouble with his kidneys for a while.

Peter and Phoebe were stranded while on holiday in the United States. Phoebe, who had been suffering from gallstones, was rushed into hospital to have her gall bladder removed.

While the American doctors were operating on Phoebe, they discovered she was suffering from cancer of the kidney and bowel.

The couple were stranded at the Florida Hospital for six weeks when her insurance company refused to pay out because she had not notified them of her illness prior to travelling.

She was only able to return home after Prince Aziz of Brunei stepped in to pay the bulk of an air ambulance fare.

Speaking about her mother's death, Susan, of Pendle Drive, Blackburn, said: "We were expecting it. Doctors had told us she would go this week but it was still a blow.

"She slept all day Thursday. The hospital made her comfortable and she slipped away peacefully."

Susan praised the staff at Blackburn Royal Infirmary for the way her mother was treated during her stay.

Although Phoebe was too ill for doctors to start a course of chemotherapy, Susan said everything possible was done to ease her pain. "I will be sending them flowers to thank them."

A charity night to raise £4,000 for the air ambulance fare has been cancelled. It was due to be held at the Stop and Rest pub in Brandy House Brow on August 17.