A pensioner who battled with epilepsy all his life has left hundreds of thousands of pounds to charity.

Robert Adams was 72 when he died after a long struggle with heart problems caused by the condition.

In a bid to help others lead an easier life than his own, he split a legacy of almost £804,000 between ten different charities - yet few of those who knew him were aware he had so much money to give.

Mr Adams left cash to the Arthritis and Rheumatism Council, the British Heart Foundation, the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, the Police Dependants' Trust, the RNLI, St Dunstan's, John Groom's Crippleage, the British Epilepsy Association and the Save the Children Fund.

Mr Adams was one of the first residents to move into The Beeches retirement home in Wordsworth Road, Worthing, when it opened in 1985.

For many of the 16 years he lived at the home before his death in January, Mr Adams was the youngest resident there.

Christine Heffron, the home's matron, remembers Mr Adams well but says she was amazed to hear of his fortune.

She said: "He was a very careful man and he had developed an interest in stocks and shares, so we knew he had some money, but I had no idea it was so much."

Mrs Heffron said Mr Adams was a kind, thoughtful man who had been a good friend to many of the other residents.

He was especially close to Frances Monnington, known as Monnie, whose room was next door to his.

Mrs Heffron said: "Monnie has been very lonely since he's gone. They used to sit together and chat all the time."

Mr Adams never married but remained devoted to his mother until her death several years before he entered the retirement home.

His father died two years ago, leaving Mr Adams with no immediate family ties.

The pensioner spent his boyhood in India and Singapore, which Mrs Heffron said had a lasting effect on him.

She said: "He used to say he wanted to be a millionaire but we had no idea how close he came to achieving his ambition."

John Hiller, a regional spokesman for the West Sussex branch of the British Epilepsy Association, said Mr Adams' money would be a significant boost to the charity.

He said: "Any amount is appreciated, so whatever amount he has left we would be grateful for. "But a large amount of money can make all the difference."