A MAN is set to fulfil his wife’s last wish for him to see his favourite rock star when he visits the region - despite only discovering her dream after she had died.

Karen King contacted The Northern Echo earlier this year to see if there was any way of getting tickets for her husband Ronnie to see Rod Stewart at Durham County Cricket Ground next month.

Despite being very ill and almost completely bed-bound she was determined to do something nice for Mr King.

Her family were oblivious to her plans and only found out when they were checking her email account after she died in March.

However, The Northern Echo contacted music promoters Cuffe and Taylor, who agreed to four tickets for the King family to go to the gig in Chester-le-Street on Friday, June 9.

“I don’t know what to say,” said Mr King. “She use to spend quite a lot of time on her laptop but I didn’t know this was what she was doing.

“She always wanted to do something for others and even when she wasn’t herself she was doing this.

“I am so shocked. I am really looking forward to it but it is going to be a very emotional time. It is still very difficult for us all and knowing this is what she wanted will make it harder because she is not here.

“She was a fantastic person, always thinking about other people and putting them first.”

Mrs King’s daughter Kelly Hymas said: “It is not the first time she has done something like this. When she first got Dementia she emailed Rod Stewart’s management company and got some signed photographs for him.

“She wanted to go with him to see Rod Stewart but that was probably not going to happen. She kept all this to herself. We only found the emails afterwards.

“It is going to be a tough day but we know this is what she wanted.”

Mr King added: “She was always looking for things about Rod Stewart for me. She found the best tribute acts. She was incredible.”

Cuffe and Taylor director Peter Taylor said: “We were very touched when the Northern Echo contacted us and told us about Mrs King. This is such a sad story and we are only too happy to offer Mr King and his family tickets to see Rod.

“I am sure they will all have a fantastic night and I hope they make many special memories.”

To book tickets, visit ticketmaster.co.uk/rod-stewart-durham-09-06-2017/event/35005251D3EFBC56