A town centre bouncer described as a gentle giant has died just three months after being diagnosed with cancer.

Mike Peachey had worked on the doors at Vivid in High Street, Herne Bay, until the start of the year.

The 47-year-old stood at 6 ft 3 ins and weighed more than 20 st, earning him the nickname “Ox” from members of the Greenhill scout group he led.

But, after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, his condition quickly deteriorated and he moved from his Station Road home to be with his ex-wife, Naomi, and their children.

“He was a lovely man - he’d do anything for anyone,” Naomi said.

“If you called him up in the middle of the night and said, ‘Mike, I need a favour’ he’d do it for you.

“He made so many friends and everybody knew him. He was a really, really nice guy.”

Mr Peachey lived in Gillingham after relocating from his native New Zealand, where he was a salesman and volunteer fireman, 20 years ago.

Soon afterwards, he met Naomi and upped sticks to live with her in Herne Bay. They wed at Canterbury Registry Office in 2002.

“He really was one in a million,” Naomi continued.

“He was also a scout leader for about a year - that’s another reason why he was so popular.”

Mr Peachey had been living in Maidstone, working for DHL and as a bouncer in the town, before returning to Herne Bay earlier this year.

He died on Sunday shortly after being admitted to the Pilgrims Hospice in London Road, Canterbury.

He leaves behind two daughters - Matilda, 15, and Freya, 16.

“There were always people coming to see him - it was a very busy house,” Naomi added.

“His family came over from New Zealand on the Wednesday and he died in the early hours of Sunday morning.

“He hung on until then and he just went downhill.

“He wanted to make his birthday on December 29. Everybody’s shocked how fast it was.”

A fundraiser has been launched to generate money for Mr Peachey's funeral, which will take place at Thanet Crematorium on Saturday, November 16.

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/peachey.

Read more: All the latest news from Herne Bay