AN INSPIRING young councillor has died following a short battle with cancer.

Doctors discovered Burnage-born Chris Andrew, 31, had a cancerous tumour on his adrenal gland just 12 weeks before he passed away.

The former St Bede’s College pupil was a Conservative councillor in the London borough of Enfield.

His mum, Kath and dad, Geoff, of Kenwood Avenue, said they are devastated by their loss.

Kath, a retired teacher, said: "We’ve had so many lovely letters from people we have never even met telling us what a wonderful man Chris was.

"We are so very proud of everything he achieved and have realised just how much of an inspiration he was to so many people."

Chris, who was being treated at The Christie, had been shortlisted as a parliamentary candidate and had just launched his own business composing wedding music.

Doctors removed a seven centimetre tumour and a kidney, but Chris lost the fight to the disease just weeks later.

Chris’s sister Sarah, 25, described her eldest brother as "a creative person who was always coming up with crazy ideas".

The talented pianist had planned to marry girlfriend Abigail Lock in two years’ time, and a song he had begun composing for their wedding was played to Chris as he took his final breaths.

The unfinished piece has been completed by his brother Dave, 28, who will play a CD of the track at Chris’s funeral next week.

Sarah, who lives in Chorlton, said: "Chris was so funny and energetic. When we were young both my brothers used to perform comedy sketches and play music together.

"He was so passionate about music and really excited about his new business. It is heartbreaking that he never got the chance to live out his dreams."

She added: "He hadn’t been himself this year and had become tired. When he went for a scan they discovered a tumour.

"We thought it would be benign, but it was an aggressive and rare form of the disease which had spread to the liver and lymph nodes – he had the best care but the cancer spread."

Chris, who had lived in Ladybarn before moving to Kenwood Avenue, was stable following his operation but two weeks after being discharged he began to suffer breathing problems and started to deteriorate rapidly.

He was later re-admitted to The Christie where he died, surrounded by his family on Tuesday, November 25.

The funeral will be held at 12.30pm on Monday, December 8, at St Bernard’s Church, Burnage Lane. The burial will take place at Mill Lane Cemetery, in Cheadle at 2pm.

The family have requested for donations to be made to The Christie.