Tributes have been paid to Stuart Paton - Carlisle's Mr Mercedes - who has died after a short illness.

Mr Paton, who spent his career with his family business selling Mercedes cars, died on March 15 in the Cumberland Infirmary.

His wife Yvonne and sister Corrinne described him as an "effervescent and charismatic family man".

Yvonne, 52, met Mr Paton at the Mercedes garage at Rosehill. The couple had been married for 12 years.

Their home in Carlisle is full of sympathy cards and flowers from friends and customers.

Yvonne said: "Since Stuart died the phone hasn't stopped ringing. People have been very kind.

"Stuart always put others first and himself second.

"He would never let anyone down. If he had a day off and a customer needed him then he would go in and see them.

"He worked six or seven days a week and took little time off."

Corrinne, Stuart's elder sister, said: "He loved to make people happy. He was always saying keep smiling."

Mr Paton grew up in Scotby and attended Rickerby School in Ecclefechan and Sedbergh School.

He joined the family business on the Viaduct in Carlisle selling Volvo and Mercedes cars after school.

The business moved to Rosehill in the late 1980s.

Yvonne said: "I'd been married to Stuart for nearly 12 years and he was a great dad to my daughter Emily. He loved her to bits.

"He had his own sense of style and liked to look smart with his suits and pointy shoes."

Corrinne said: "He had a great eye for colour and was always very well dressed."

Mr Paton was a personal friend of snooker player Stephen Hendry and had sold several Mercedes cars to him.

He had also sold and serviced cars for Jason Orange from Take That.

Yvonne said: "I think when news of Jason Orange got out there were girls waiting at the garage. Stuart loved all that."

Mr Paton enjoyed family holidays - as a child in Whitley Bay and more recently with Yvonne in Tenerife and last year in Greece.

"He just liked being with the family. He liked to come home from work and close the door and shut the world out."

A celebration of Stuart's life will be held on Wednesday, March 28 at 11.40am at Carlisle Crematorium.

A Mercedes hearse and a fleet of Mercedes cars will transport Mr Paton's body and mourners to his funeral.

Family flowers only but donations to some of Mr Paton's favourite charities can be made at the service.

Bright clothing may be worn.

He leaves his wife, sister, parents Bob and Margaret Paton, brother Steve (Weeve) and stepdaughter Emily.