Diane Pretty's supporters invited to funeral

Diane Pretty fought a long legal battle

Supporters of Diane Pretty's right-to-die campaign are being invited to attend her funeral in Luton on Thursday.

Her husband of 23 years, Brian, said: "Anybody who has met Diane and wishes to pay their final respects is more than welcome."

The motor-neurone-disease sufferer died at a hospice near her Luton home after losing a protracted court battle to enable her husband to help her end her life.

She feared the choking and asphyxia often caused by her disease.

Brian Pretty was with Diane when she died

The 43-year-old started having breathing difficulties three days after she lost her battle in the European Court of Human Rights.

She died after slipping into a coma following 10 days of severe breathing difficulties caused by the advanced state of her condition.

Mr Pretty, who was at his wife's bedside when she died, said: "Diane had to go through the one thing she had foreseen and was afraid of - and there was nothing I could do to help."

On her website, the mother-of-two had written: "I want to have a quick death without suffering, at home surrounded by my family so that I can say goodbye to them."

Supporters wishing to attend the funeral can contact the Voluntary Euthanasia Society for more details by e-mailing [e-mail].