A BRIDE watched in horror as her husband plunged to his death on their honeymoon.

Sarah Waddington, 28, tried desperately to grab him after he slipped and fell from the balcony of their Spanish hotel.

But Steven Waddington, 35, fell six floors.

The couple, of Cooper Fold, Middleton, were honeymooning in Benalmadena, on the Costa del Sol, when the tragedy happened after a night out.

They were married six weeks ago in The Bower Hotel, Chadderton, after an 18-month engagement.

Sarah said: "I'm devastated. We were in love and I will never ever be able to get over this loss. Nobody could ever take away this pain. We don't deserve this, it's so unfair.

"Steven was so popular. I don't think he realised how popular he was. Everyone knew him. He just brought a ray of sunshine into all our lives. He would do anything for anyone and he was like a big brother to a lot of people. He's going to be missed by everyone."

The pair lived with adopted daughter Caragh, 14, and Sarah's little boy Harry, three.

The couple adopted Caragh after Sarah's aunt Colette - Caragh's mum - died of cancer in 2004. Caragh said of Steven: "He was the perfect father figure to me and Harry. I wouldn't have changed him for the world.

"I still can't believe he's gone and I never will. He will always be loved and missed by many - especially us."

Steven, a former Langley Primary and Queen Elizabeth High School pupil, was a talented boxer, training at Bob Shannon's gym in Openshaw.

Nicknamed The Whip, and known as 'Waddy' to his friends, he fought for Langley Spartans in his youth and boxed and worked for Danny Hornsby's KO Promotions.

Sarah, who works for Bury Primary Care Trust, was due to bring Steven's body back home yesterday .