Stephen Jaquest, of Jaquest Food Specialists, at Bolsover Business Park, suffered bone-marrow cancer for four years before his death on Tuesday last week.

And heartbroken parents John and Pauline are now selling their award-winning fine food and meat suppliers.

Dad John (61) said: "Stephen was well-loved by family, friends and traders and he'll be greatly missed.

"He loved food and always went for awards and I'm sure he would have taken the business forward.

"But we decided to sell because it would be difficult to keep going after Stephen had put so much in and left so many memories."

Stephen, who lived at The Hill, Glapwell, studied catering and earned a hotel management diploma and worked at the family business, which was founded in 1989 and won honours in The Guild of Fine Food Retailers' Great Taste Awards.

But after being diagnosed with cancer, Stephen who enjoyed trial bikes, suffered heart failure and blood poisoning and was wheelchair-bound before dying at home.

His funeral takes place at St Mary and St Laurence's Bolsover Parish Church, from 2pm, tomorrow, followed by burial at Oxcroft Lane Cemetery. Donations for Ashgate Hospice are welcome.