HIS smile could light up a room.

Despite not being able to talk or walk, Harley Andrews liked to have fun.

The terminally-ill teenager lost his fight on Monday in Jigsaw, at Carlisle’s Eden Valley Hospice.

Harley, 16, is a twin who developed complications at birth due to twin-to-twin transfusion. He had cerebral palsy and epilepsy and was fed through a hole in his stomach after having a tracheotomy fitted.

Harley, who used to attend James Rennie School in Carlisle, left Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Hospital in December and spent a few weeks at home in Stainton Gardens, Etterby, before being admitted to the children’s ward at the Cumberland Infirmary.

He had spent the last two weeks at Jigsaw.

His mum Melissa said: “Although he had been ill forever - for all of his life - it still comes as a real shock now that he’s gone. It still doesn’t feel real.

“He was always smiling. He was amazing.”

Harley’s condition had deteriorated over the last year.

His dad Peter, who was his full time carer, said: “He loved the wind and fresh air. He loved being outside.”

Melissa continued: “We long fought to get a disabled swing for a wheelchair at Bitts Park and when it was finally installed he loved it.”

His brothers joked about how much noise he liked to make.

Owen, 17, said: “He loved bells and making noise. He liked my rock music.”

Luke, 22, added: “The louder the better. He was always happy - beaming.”

And his twin Harrison, 16, said: “You could always hear him before you saw him, as he’d have his bells and his tambourine.”

His family have asked people to take along bells and tambourines to his funeral service which will take place at Carlisle Crematorium at 10.20am on Thursday, May 2.

Melissa said: “Harley will be carried into the crematorium by his dad and his brothers. It’s not a religious service. We want people to bring their bells and tambourines. One of the songs will be He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother by The Hollies.”

The family would like to thank Harley’s carers, Sophie, Sammy and Emma, all the nursing staff at Jigsaw and the Cumberland Infirmary children’s ward and Peter and Gail Dudney, who provided respite care for Harley.

Melissa said: “We were with Harley when he died. Everyone has been brilliant.We’re so grateful. Harley had been coming to the hospice since he was a baby.

“We built our lives around Harley. He had a lot of fits but you just get used to it. It was how it was and we just adapted to it.”

Harrison, who is studying for his GCSEs at Trinity School, said: “He was worth it.” And Owen said: “He was popular with the girls. Everyone who met him loved him.”

People are asked to wear bright, colourful clothing at the funeral.

Donations, in lieu of flowers, will be collected for Jigsaw Children’s Hospice and the Children’s Ward at the Cumberland Infirmary.