Popular Margate teacher Luke Williams who launched a bucket list that included marrying his fiancee has lost his battle with cancer.

Friends, family, and pupils at Hartsdown Academy where he worked, rallied round a fundraising effort organised for Pilgrim's Hospice and Cancer Research, which has so far raised almost £25,000.

Brave Luke, of Westfield Road, Margate, was diagnosed with mouth cancer on the day of his 28th birthday on June 18 last year.

He had to have his tongue partially removed but recovered from the disease after chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment, even going back to work at Hartsdown in January.

Sadly the IT teacher, a former Hartsdown pupil, went on to develop secondary cancer in both lungs, which doctors told him was terminal in May.

When he learned that his cancer was terminal, Luke, 29, said: "After I was told I had six months to live and it had sunk in, I just accepted it. I was at peace with it and decided I would enjoy the life I had left."

He decided to stop the aggressive cancer treatment and enjoy his remaining days.

Luke stayed true to this promise and worked through bucket list of things to do before he died.

One of them was to marry his fiancee Linda, which he did at Smiths Court Hotel, Cliftonville on Friday, August 8.

Liam Morris, 29, Luke’s close friend and one of the organisers of his fundraising effort, consulted fundraisers for Stephen Sutton, the Staffordshire teenager who raised £3.2m for the Teenage Cancer Trust before he died of the disease in May.

After news of his death broke, Hartsdown Academy principal Andy Somers said: "On behalf of the college, staff, students, and governors I want to highlight our sincere respect for everything Luke achieved in his life which was sadly so short-lived.

"We are cold and numb with grief, and our deep condolences go to his wife Linda, and his family and friends on this sad occasion.

"I want to highlight our sincere respect for everything Luke achieved in his life which was sadly so short-lived. We are cold and numb with grief..." - Principal Andy Somers

"Luke was a Higher Learning and Teaching Assistant and was about to start his full teacher training, a move which delighted us as he had great promise in the profession.

"He was very popular young man with colleagues and students, and one of his greatest gifts was that he always took time to listen to people, which is critically important in education.

"Luke's fight against his cancer and his determination to wring every last positive moment from his life through his magnificent fund-raising efforts in the last three months has been an inspiration for us all."

The school has opened a book of condolences for staff and students to sign, and is organising a soccer match in Luke's honour on Monday October 20 to raise money for his cancer charity appeal.

The school's new 3G floodlit soccer pitch will also be named after him and teams will compete for the Luke Williams Cup.

To donate for Luke, click here.