A FAMILY who saw their father collapse in front of his majorette troupe have taken the agonising decision to switch off his life support machine.

Father of four Tony Bowe, 42, who worked at Hamilton McBride in Altham, bent down to pick up a drumstick dropped by one of his team and collapsed.

The leader of Shawforth Majorettes was marching with young members at Rochdale Carnival. Three of Tony's four daughters were in the procession which was coming to the end of its parade through the town on Sunday when tragedy struck.

His wife Jackie, also a leader and in the parade, rushed to try to help him but although paramedics fought to save his life at the scene and later at Rochdale Infirmary, she took the decision to turn off his life support machine.

Jackie, of Taylor Avenue, Edgeside, said: "They worked on him for hours and told me that if he lived he would have had brain damage. He would not have known who I was or who his children were."

Tony and Jackie had been married for 19 years and involved with the majorettes for about 12 years during which time all four of their daughters had been members.

Michelle, 17, and Deborah, 13, saw their father collapse. Their sister Kerryann, nine, did not see what happened.

The couple's oldest daughter Jeanette, 18, has left the majorettes and was not present.

Rossendale Town Crier Peter Gill said: "He was a colourful man, well respected, an amiable lad and had a tremendous personality. He always had a smile.

"Everyone is devastated at the news -- he was such a well liked man."

Tony had worked at Hamilton McBride formerly in Helmshore and latterly in Altham for more than 20 years. Jackie, a night-shift worker for Asda, said: "Tony was a very happy, cheerful bloke, he loved his daughters and loved life.

"He was always busy playing guitar and drums and he enjoyed passing on his skills to the majorettes.

"He particularly enjoyed going with the majorettes to Bocholt (Rossendale's twin town) and had made many friends over in Germany."

A post mortem examination was carried out yesterday and the funeral will be on June 5 with a service at St Nicholas Church, Newchurch.