CHILDHOOD sweethearts who had been married for 56 years died seven hours apart after both catching Covid-19.

Leigh and Cynthia Bryant, from Wellington, passed away 40 miles apart in separate hospitals.

Grandparents Leigh, 77, and Cynthia, 75, of Buckwell, were struck down with the virus last month.

Cynthia was taken to Musgrove Park Hospital, in Taunton, after testing positive for the disease, and Leigh was admitted to the same hospital five days later after also falling ill with the coronavirus.

Leigh was later transferred to Southmead Hospital, in Bristol, after showing signs of improvement.

Their family was devastated when Cynthia died at 6.15pm on Friday, January 22, and her husband died at 1.15am the next day.

One of their two sons, Kevin, said: "Doctors felt they had to tell dad about mum and for a while he showed some improvement, but then took a turn for the worse.

"As you can imagine, we’re all still shocked."

Kevin added: "We could not have had better parents.

"They were inseparable and went everywhere together.

"They were lovely and role models. Their family was everything to them.

"We never saw this coming. They were very much switched-on grandparents who regularly attended football matches to watch their grandchildren play."

Leigh played football for Wellington in his younger days, but retired relatively early to bring up his family.

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He had picked up an ankle injury and did not want to be off work because of it.

Kevin and his brother Darren both played football for Wellington.

Leigh and Cynthia had five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Their grandsons Luke, Sam, Conor and Jack. There is a granddaughter, Emily.

Leigh and Cynthia's funeral is taking place at Taunton Deane Crematorium on Wednesday (February 10).