A family has paid tribute to a "doting dad" after he died unexpectedly just four months after marrying his soulmate.

James Guthrie was the "heart and soul" of his family and friends' lives and a much-loved neighbour in Appledore Close in Millmead, Margate.

Heartbroken widow, Vicky, says family members discovered James on the sofa after coming downstairs on the morning of August 28.

She said: “James sometimes slept downstairs because he would occasionally lash out in his sleep because he was in pain.

“I can’t get it out of my head. I am going to have to be mum and dad to both our children now.”

The 27-year-old had been suffering from cluster headaches which were so debilitating he required oxygen and strong painkillers.

Vicky said: “He used to sit there and shake he was in so much pain and his eye began to droop.

"They are known as suicide headaches they are so bad and it got worse just before Christmas.”

After he was found unresponsive emergency services raced to the house but tragically he was pronounced dead at the scene.

"Everyone who knows James knows he loved his family, his kids were his life and they will live on in him" - James' sister Vikki

It comes after the couple lost their newborn son JJ (James Junior) shortly after he was born.

They went on to have three-year-old Ruby and two-year-old Charlie.

They had been married for just four months after a celebration with family and friends at Smiths Court Hotel on Eastern Esplanade.

She said: “It was a lovely day and the music to the video montage was Ed Sheeran, Perfect and we also had Westlife.

“The song we would always sing to each other though was from the film Step Up, we used to always sing to each other.”

After the wedding the couple enjoyed their honeymoon in Malta.

Vicky said: “We had our kids quite soon after meeting so this was the first time we could have time to ourselves.”

The family man was looking after beloved mum Tina and little sister Ellie when he met Vicky five years ago.

She said: "I only lived up the road and I fell for him.”

Sister Jade, 23, remembers James as forever the prankster, saying: “He was constantly playing jokes on people but you could not help but love him.

Sister-in-law Vikki Parris said: “He was not only a great brother to me but also an amazing uncle not only to my children but to all.

“He had a special bond with my son Stanley who he would call Pan and say his name was Peter and together they were Peter Pan, the boys that never grow up.

Jade added: “He played with everyone’s children on the estate and painted a bench and used to watch out over them, he was such an amazing man.”

Jodi King remembers how he looked after his nephews. She said: "James was a father figure to my son Logan (his three-year-old nephew). He took him on as his own when his brother Luke wasn't around and was always there for us day or night. He was also a father figure to Mickie- Leigh's daughter Lacie Jane. He really took care of them. Logan loved his uncle James. James loved the bond Ruby, Charlie and Logan had even though they lived miles apart."

James Guthrie, who was a horror film fan, worked as a removals man and also enjoyed watching boxing.

Vikki added: “Everyone who knows James knows he loved his family, his kids were his life and they will live on in him.”

James's friends and family have all decided to have tattoos to remember him - they are going to have wooden spoons as a cheeky tribute to his reputation as the fun loving founder of the 'Wooden Spoon Gang.' - an ode to his jokester character."

A crowdfunding campaign has been set up to give him fitting send off.

• To donate visit www.gofundme.com/james-guthrie-funeral