Father of two Tony Barrett, 45, from Brixham, south Devon, died of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, which has been linked to BSE-infected cattle.

His widow Sandra, said: "I jut hope the current beef ban won't be lifted until it's totally safe."

How Mr Barrett came to contract the disease is a mystery.

Torture

Seventeen-stone, 6ft 2in Mr Barrett had a normal, healthy mixed diet, Mrs Barrett said.

She added: "This really brings the dangers home. I don't want anyone else - any other family - to go through the same torture.

"I can't think of anything worse than watching the rapid deterioration of the husband and father you love, losing all his faculties, all because someone wants to make a profit out of cheap cattle food."

Mr Barrett's daughter Paula, 23, said: "I was always moaning at Dad for being so loud and cheerful first thing in the morning.

"Now I'd give anything to have him cracking jokes and being jolly at 7am."