A family has raised over £11,400 towards researching a cure for glioblastomas following their father's death from the disease.

Barry Smith, from Belbroughton, Stourbridge, succumbed to a brain tumour at 62 in February 2021 after surviving a heart attack and brain inflammation.

Barry's daughters, Lydia and Lorna, have since visited the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence at Queen Mary University of London to learn about the beneficial impacts of their fundraising efforts.

Smith worked as a builder for 40 years and was known for his lively and warm personality, but changes in his demeanour and periods of confusion led to a brain tumour diagnosis.

Despite surgeries, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, the tumour affected his mobility and continued to grow.

Lydia said: "Dad was a huge personality but became a shadow of himself.

"When he died during lockdown restrictions, we received a huge outpouring of love. We knew that when the time was right, we wanted to do something so everybody whose life he touched, had a chance to celebrate with him."

Lorna added: "Watching Dad change in front of our eyes was horrible. I would have given one of my limbs to save him.

Instead, we face a future without him being around to watch me and my sister get married and have a family of our own."

The family hosted a fundraiser in January at the Talbot pub, Belbroughton, gathering clients, friends and relatives to honour Smith, who wasn't granted a proper send-off due to the Covid-19 lockdown.

At the university, they discussed potential cures with scientists and added four tiles to the 'Wall of Hope,' symbolising the £2,740 needed to fund daily research.

Brain Tumour Research leads campaigns urging for more government funding into brain tumours research, aiming for an annual £35m investment.