A shopkeeper who fought in vain to stop a Tesco store opening up on his doorstep is selling up because of a new battle - with cancer.

Popular Ken Smith owned Bathwick Stores for more than 20 years but has been forced to shut up shop after he was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year.

The 70-year-old, who is suffering from pancreatic cancer and been given three years to live, said he was determined to prove doctors wrong and was going to make the most of his new-found freedom.

He said the Bathwick Hill shop had been a huge part of his life and he was going to miss working there, but that he was also looking forward to having some spare time.

He said: "I loved meeting all the customers and the little kids as well as the business side of it.

"I am going to miss it but it is nice not to look at the clock in the morning and think it is time to go to work."

In the next few months Mr Smith plans to travel to Thailand to see his sister and is also looking forward to a trip to Las Vegas.

He said: "I am not going to get depressed.

"The doctors have given me three years to live but I don't believe it and I said I will see them in six.

"It is incredible and I can't believe it.

"I have never been in hospital in my life.

"But now I have all this time on my hands - I drove down to the beach the other day and it has been lovely."

Mr Smith, who worked as a milkman and in the local post office before moving to the store, said he had fond memories from his time there.

He said: "Everybody said I used to talk a lot and they love being chatted to.

"In a lot of bigger shops these days, nobody speaks to you and I think it is important to communicate with your customers and make them laugh.

"Sometimes ladies from across the road would come in and say 'Ken I don't want to buy anything today, I just need cheering up.'

"You have got to sell yourself, and if you are miserable you are not helping anyone."

The father of one, who is now married to his third wife, said the best purchase he ever made was a pick'n'mix stand for £500.

He said: "It must have made me a fortune and was the most successful thing I ever did."

He often encouraged the children to add up the price of their own sweets.

"I used to give them educational lessons and sometimes I was really surprised at how quickly some of them could add up.

"They always quite enjoyed it."

In the last few years Mr Smith fought plans by Tesco to open a Tesco Express store.

The firm was twice refused by council planners, but it eventually opened last year.

At the time of its opening he said it would threaten his business and expected he would be forced to close down in a few years.

He said this week: "I was in my little shop for 20 years and I reckon they would have put me out of business in about 20 months.

"I still had a lot of loyal customers but if people can get something 10p cheaper that's where they go."

Ann Cook, who lives across the road from the shop, said it was a great shame Mr Smith had to close his store.

She said: "I have grown to love and respect Ken for his wisdom and sanity and friendship to everyone who crossed his doorstep.

"He took the time to treat all customers as if each was the only one who mattered.

"He is just a wonderful character and he will be so sorely missed."

Tesco has this week opened its new store in the old Somerfield outlet at Weston.