The family of a former shop manager who fought cancer twice before being diagnosed with motor neurone disease have raised £2,700 for a hospice in his memory.

Ron Crawford, of Colne Engaine Road, Halstead, was cared for at St Helena Hospice in Colchester before his death on May 9, his 77th birthday.

He had fought lung cancer several years ago and was diagnosed with prostate cancer shortly before embarking on a 630-mile walk around the south west peninsula with his wife Anne in May 2009, during which they raised more than £2,500 for Cancer Research UK.

Mrs Crawford said he started suffering hip and leg pain about two years ago and he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in January.

He was cared for at St Helena Hospice in Colchester and his family have raised £2,700 for a specialist mattress and other equipment in his memory.