TWO brothers were in mourning today after their wives died within 15 minutes of each other in separate North Yorkshire hospitals.

Peter Sykes, 45, of Harrogate, lost his wife, Sarah, 30, last Tuesday. She had been suffering from Crohn's Disease and died in Harrogate District Hospital.

His brother, Keith, 43, of Acomb, York, lost his wife, Sheila, 45, only 15 minutes later in York District Hospital, after a three-year fight against cancer. She also leaves a seven-year-old son, James.

Sarah's funeral was taking place today at Bishop Thornton Church, near Harrogate.

Peter and Sarah had been married for nearly seven years. He had moved from Acomb to Harrogate.

Sarah worked at Thorn Croft, at Knaresborough, as a house manager for people with learning difficulties.

Peter, a self-employed painter and decorator, said: "She was very well known in the area and everybody loved her.

"She was happy-go-lucky and she liked a laugh and a joke - one of those people really. She always put other people first before herself."

Keith, of Jute Road, Acomb, said Sheila went into York District Hospital on Monday afternoon, then he got a phone call from his brother early on Tuesday morning.

"He rang me to say things weren't so good. As soon as I'd put the 'phone down the hospital rang me to tell me to go down to see Sheila."

Sheila died at 9am.

She had had breast cancer three years ago then developed respiratory problems over the last few weeks.

Keith, a bus driver for Malton-based Yorkshire Coastliner, said she was a devoted wife and mother.

Originally from Clifton - her maiden name was Todd - she had eight brothers and sisters and worked at the Birthdays shop in Spurriergate, York.

The couple had been married for eight years.

"She was always happy - she was always a family person," he said.

Sheila's funeral takes place on Thursday afternoon at Our Lady's RC Church, Acomb.

Updated: 10:59 Monday, November 12, 2001