TRIBUTES have been paid to a much-loved great-grandfather who has died after testing positive for coronavirus.

Giuseppe Casciello, who was a resident in Oaklands Nursing Home in Hove, died in the early hours of this morning, two days after his 95th birthday.

The home in Dyke Road Avenue has been battling a Covid-19 outbreak, with about three quarters of residents and seven staff displaying symptoms.

Son Raffaele, 64, last spoke to Giuseppe on Saturday through a video call, which had been arranged by staff.

He said: “I said goodnight to him as I could not bring myself to say goodbye.

“My father’s battle is over, but the magnificent staff there are still fighting to save the others.

“They are putting their own lives at risk to protect the ones we love.”

Giuseppe has been described as the “most gentle, kindest man ever” who cared deeply for his eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

The “quiet” food-lover worked as head chef of the Savoy Hotel in the 1980s – and cooked food for Prince Charles’s stag do before he married Diana.

Raffaele said: “I can’t thank the home staff enough – it brings a lump to my throat now thinking about what they’re doing for those people in there.

“I hope they will be honoured and praised for what they are doing when this is over.”

Granddaughter Carina described Giuseppe as “the best of us all”.

She said: “Husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather to our family and a man who is loved and adored.

“He was a quiet man with a hilarious sense of humour that would leave us crying with laughter.

“He was always so happy to see you with happiness in his eyes and the sweetest smile.

“His last Christmas party where he sang Que Sera Sera will be the lasting and most cherished of them all.

“We are forever grateful for the care and love he received up until the last moments.

“He will be loved and missed forever by his heartbroken family.”

Devastated daughter Gisella said: “My dad was the most gentle, kindest man ever.

“His main concern was to not ever be a burden on anyone.

“Even when he was so terribly poorly he managed a smile for me when we Facetimed on his birthday this last Saturday.

“I have held his hand for the last 56 years of my life and not to be able to hold it in the last few hours of his life has been heartbreaking.

“Today is his wedding anniversary. He will be together again with my darling mum. May God bless them both.”