Tributes have been paid to a popular Bath sportsman who died suddenly after managing to overcome a rare muscle wasting disease he had battled for years.

Paul Dagger, 44, was a talented stonemason, who had worked on buildings across the city over the past 20 years, and a keen rugby player.

He has been described by friends and family as "the life and soul of the party".

In 2006 Mr Dagger was struck down with a rare muscle wasting disease and struggled for 18 months as doctors battled to diagnose his condition, polymyecitis, and bring it under control.

His weight plummeted to under nine stone and he was unable to work or play rugby for his club Stothert and Pitt.

However, although he still needed regular check-ups at the Mineral Water Hospital, Mr Dagger was well enough to return to work a year ago.

He died suddenly last month of a heart attack, which doctors do not think was related to his illness.

Mr Dagger, who was educated at Culverhay School, completed an apprenticeship in stonemasonry and bricklaying at what is now City of Bath College, before setting up a business with his close friend Mike Wall, who he had known since he was 16.

Ten years ago he met his future wife Tanya and the couple were married at Weston All Saints Church in 2003, when Mr Dagger became stepfather to Tanya's 16-year-old twin daughters Abbi and Emily.

Mrs Dagger, who works at Three Ways School, said her husband had been a dedicated family man.

She said: "Family was such a big part of his life, it was so important to him. He loved family occasions.

"When we got married I asked him if he would like any more children but he said that Abbi and Emily were his girls now.

"He was so protective of them, he adored them. He was special like that."

Mrs Dagger said her husband's life revolved around his family, his job and his rugby and he found it difficult when he could no longer play.

She said: "Rugby was everything to him.

"He wanted to do his 20 years for the club, but he was one year short when he became ill.

"He never really wanted to go back down after that, he found it difficult to watch the games when he couldn't be involved."

Past chairman of Stothert and Pitt, Tony Adams paid tribute to Mr Dagger's passion for the game.

He said: "Within the club Paul was a character who will be sadly missed, especially his infectious sense of humour.

"His passion for the game and Stothert and Pitt Rugby Club was so great that he was know to sleep with a rugby ball and had the club badge tattooed on his torso."

Mr Dagger joined the club in the late 1980s at the age of 23 and played all three positions in the front row.

He broke into the first team in 1991 and stayed there for 12 years, before captaining the 2nd XV for a season.

After breaking his ankle, he returned to captain the 3rd XV during the 2005/06 season and that year was named clubman of the year.

A minutes silence in memory of Mr Dagger was held before club matches on the weekend after his death.

Mr Dagger's younger brother Andy and sister-in-law Claire said they were holding on to happy memories.

Andy Dagger said: "Not only was Paul my brother but he was also my best friend.

"He was always the life and soul of the party and I have such fond memories of going on holiday together when we were younger."

Mr Dagger and his business partner Mike Wall were friends for 27 years and set up the Dagger and Wall building company together 20 years ago.

Mr Wall said: "What you saw with Paul is what you got, he was such an open book.

"He was friends with everybody and he made an impression on everyone he met.

"He loved his work and we did stonemasonry together across Bath and all over the country.

"Over the past year he was back to his best and that is why this has been such a shock."

Mrs Dagger said he husband had been the one to make her smile again after her divorce.

"There wasn't a bad thing about him, he was so loving.

"He was such a popular bloke and he bonded with everybody because he was so friendly.

"When we met he brought the laughter back into my life because he was so funny."

She thanked friends and family who had rallied round when Mr Dagger had been ill and staff at the Mineral Water Hospital for everything they had done.

When Mr Dagger had been ill he had spoken to his family about what he wanted his funeral to be like.

Mrs Dagger said: "He wanted everyone to go to the rugby club and enjoy themselves.

"He wanted a party, a celebration of his life.

"He wouldn't want everyone to be sad. He would want people to tell stories about things that had happened and remember him like that."

His family have invited anyone who knew him to his funeral, which will be held at St Michael's Church in Broad Street tomorrow at 2pm.

They have requested that only family flowers be sent but donations can be made to BIRD or the Mineral Water Hospital c/o G Mannings Funeral Directors, 106 North Road, Combe Down, Bath.