FIGHTING back tears Don Lock's son was lost for words when asked how best to describe his father.

Andrew Lock eventually mustered the courage to say: "I haven't got enough words. "

Mr Lock's widow Maureen stepped in to describe her husband of 55 years.

"He was my whole life," she said.

"He was the most wonderful husband.

"He was loving and generous and honest."

Finding an answer deep inside, Mr Lock's son said: "People say to me 'you are just like him'

"That is the biggest compliment anyone can pay to me."

Clutching each others' hands and fighting back tears, the Lock family spoke with steely resolve about the tumultuous last ten months of their lives.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Rymarz, who led the investigation, praised the "dignified manner" in which they conducted themselves throughout.

The family described great-grandfather Mr Lock as "the glue that held our family together and the oil that removed any friction."

They added: "We all now have to find ways to continue what dad created.

"A close family that had learnt respect, how to laugh, how to love and how to always be there for those who needed you."

The Lock family condemned the failings of health services after Matthew Daley was found guilty of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility due to his mental health problems yesterday.

His devastated daughter Sandra fled the courtroom in tears as the forewoman of the jury read out Daley's not guilty verdict for murder.

She did not hear his guilty verdict for manslaughter read out.

Leaving the court she told reporters: "There's no justice anymore."

Mr Lock's family said they were unaware that Sussex Partnership NHS Trust intended to review eight other homicides committed by people cared for by the trust until they were told by The Argus.

In response to the news Andrew Lock said: "All that shows is exactly what sort of problem we are dealing with.

"This just exacerbates the problem that they had.

"More than anything no other family should go through the same thing as we have suffered.

"Mental illness becomes an excuse and at this point in the day he still killed my dad. The verdict says that.

"I can't forgive him (Daley).

"The way the law works it is almost like dad doesn't matter as a person. they have an excuse.

"But it doesn't change anything for us. Dad is still not here.

"This verdict effectively provides the Daley family with what they have wanted, their son in a safe place away from harm's way and being treated correctly.

"For them they can still visit their son, hug him and talk to him.

"For us all we can do is cling on to the wonderful memories of dad.

"We were made aware of the NHS investigations some months ago.

"We asked if the failings were as a result of a lack of resources in the mental heath department. We were categorically assured this was not the issue at all.

"So what was the cause? Lack of training, lack of skilled staff, lack of morale through poor wages or simply the inability to follow tried and tested procedures in the assessment of an individual's health problems?

"Maybe David Cameron would like to start showing people like us how he intends to ensure NHS money goes to the people on the coal face and not just filling the pockets of NHS executives."

The Lock family is raising funds for a sculpture to be erected in his memory opposite his beloved Worthing Excelsior Cycling Club's meeting room in Broadwater, hoping it will "inspire people to get out and enjoy life as dad did".

"As we know very clearly now, life is a very fragile thing and we must make the most of it all the time we can," his son added.