A POPULAR landlord is fighting a mystery illness that has left him partially paralysed and shattered his dream of running a pub.

Former paratrooper Adrian Robinson, who has also worked as a bodyguard, is battling the debilitating condition which has also left him suffering from a permanent headache and dizziness.

He spent three days in Blackburn Royal Infirmary last week, but despite undergoing numerous tests and a brain scan, doctors remain baffled as to what is the cause.

It had been feared he had developed a brain tumour, but nothing showed up on the scan.

The illness has left Adrian and his wife Kirsty with no option but to quit the Thorn pub in St James Road, Church, just four months after they took it over.

Adrian, 38, who now has trouble walking without a stick, said: "It was our dream to run a pub together."

"But we have handed in our notice in as we simply can't run it anymore."

Speaking of his turmoil he said: "The doctor said he thought it was a brain tumour because of the symptoms. But they now say it isn't."

"It is the not knowing that is more worrying for us. When you know what is wrong with you, you can plan ahead."

"You know what needs doing, whether it is something they can cure or something that is going to get worse. We are just in limbo at the moment."

Kirsty, 19, added: "He is living for today and not tomorrow. All of our friends and family have been brilliant and helped us. We couldn't manage without them."

Adrian, who has a four-year-old son, formerly worked as a bodyguard protecting celebrities, company bosses and royalty across the world; he has worked in Sweden, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Saudia Arabia, Algiers, Kazakhstan and France.

He served for over six years in world-famous parachute regiment and has travelled all over the globe. He also has a black belt in Judo.