A HEARTBROKEN Romsey father has paid tribute after losing both his wife and new partner in the space of just two years.

Jon Tilt was married to wife Liz for 28 years and had two children, after moving to Romsey in 1991.

Liz was then diagnosed with breast cancer, and worked with Romsey cancer support charity Jane Scarth House as she battled the disease.

Sadly, Liz lost her fight in 2016, leaving Jon and their two daughters Poppy, 23, and Jess, 21.

Then, in March, Jon lost his second partner Judy Cutbill, who, after suffering from unbearable back pain due to an undiagnosed degenerative illness, committed suicide.

As reported, an inquest heard that Judy had committed suicide in her car off a car park along the A3057 earlier this year.

Despite the heartbreak, Jon set about doing everything he could to raise funds and awareness in their names, and thank those who supported him during the testing times.

It wasn't until Judy's brother Simon Fielding-Turton suggested a cycle tour of the French Alps, that Jon decided to embark on a challenge of raising funds for Jane Scarth House.

Jon, 55, said although he was a keen runner, cycling was something he had to train for, particularly as some of the routes have featured on the Tour de France.

Jon, who works for IBM in Hursley, said: "At Liz's service of remembrance, we used a rallying call to everyone to live life to the full in the way that Liz had. Even during these difficult times I wanted to do something positive to remember them both."

Jon's friend Paul Fielon was on hand to coach Jon, using Portsdown Hill near Fareham to replicate the conditions, before they embarked on the three-day challenge in June.

All together, Jon has helped to raise £1,000 for the support charity.

Jon added: "Liz and Judy were very special people, both kind and thoughtful and always looking out for others. Liz and I had many years of happy marriage and it was incredibly difficult, but she was such a fighter.

"I was desperate to do something to help remember them by. The second day was one of the hardest physical challenges of my life. The scenery was breathtaking and seemed a very fitting place to remember such lovely people as Liz and Judy.

"We managed 140 miles and more than 20,000 feet of ascent in three days. The going up was tough physically, the coming down was even tougher mentally."

To donate to Jon's cause, visit mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/jontilt1.