FAMILY of Pete Smith, known by many as Mr Devizes, this week spoke of their devastation at his death.

Former Mayor Mr Smith, 67, died on Saturday evening after doctors told the family that his brain had been starved of oxygen after he suffered a heart attack at the wheel of his van five days earlier.

They had been clinging to the hope that he would pull round after he was put into an induced coma but on Friday it became clear he could not survive.

His daughter Nay, 37, of Sarum Drive, Devizes said this week: "When I first got the news of the accident I felt as if my world had ended. We kept praying he would be ok.

"We have been completely overwhelmed with all the message of support and love we have received. So many people knew my Dad. He was a gentleman who was always positive and wanted to make people happy.

"He loved being Mayor and also part of the Major Wrecks. He adored his grandchildren and always had time for them. He was a one off who can't be replaced. He loved Devizes and many people thought of him as Mr Devizes."

Mr Smith, who moved to Wiltshire from London when he was a teenager, had been married to his wife Sonia for more than 40 years and had lived in Waiblingen Way for nearly all their married life. They married when they were 21 five years after they met in Devizes.

They had four children Shane, Matthew, Luke and Nay and nine grandchildren.

Mrs Smith spoke of her love for her husband who she said worked incredibly hard his whole life to provide for his family. She said: "You could not have had a better husband. I was so proud when he was Mayor both times.

"We used to travel all over to watch him in the Major Wrecks and I used to do the make-up for them all. He loved dressing up and being over the top to entertain people."

Luke Smith said: "He was a fantastic father who had made me the sort of Dad I am to my own children. He never let me down and even though he was so small I looked up to him but I did used to kiss his little head."

His eldest grandchild Jamie, 24, has wonderful memories of playing golf with his grandfather. He said: "He used to make me get up at 6.30am to go with him to Upavon. It was something I wasn't too happy about at the time but I have fantastic memories."

Mr Smith was useful off a handicap of 17 and had also been a keen county level cricketer in his younger years.

His funeral will be at 3pm at St John's Church on September 2. People are asked to wear purple.