One of the longest-serving traders in a coastal town has died following a battle with cancer.

Karl Puntschart, 67, was best known as Tubby Isaacs, so-called after the stalls he ran in Clacton.

He was born in Austria in 1940, the son of a British serviceman and an Austrian mother.

The family moved to Lincoln shortly after the war, and Mr Puntschart married wife Linda in 1964.

They moved to Clacton in 1971 after having sons Melvin and Michael, and Mr Puntschart began working for Frankie Bailey Amusement Arcades.

The couple soon turned their attention to the fish trade, opening several stalls in the area under the Tubby Isaacs name.

As a result, Mr Puntschart became a well-known and much-loved face around town.

"He made a lot of people happy," said his widow, who lives in Jaywick Lane.

"He was so well-liked and never had an argument - he was a real character."

Mr Puntschart, who also previously ran an angling shop, was a member of the Clacton Golf Club for 20 years, as well as the town's sea angling club.

He suffered from cancer for three years before he died, and his family say he bore his illness with bravery.

"He'd have chemotherapy then go back to work," said Mrs Puntschart.

"If he felt tired he'd have a nap, then get back to the stall.

"He was working three weeks before he died.

"The man was amazing."

She added that he will be sorely missed by both family and friends.

"I don't know what I'm going to do without him," said Mrs Puntschart.

"I can't tell you how much his grandchildren are going to miss him - they were his be all and end all.

"We've had nearly 50 sympathy cards from his friends - it's amazing how many he had."

Mr Puntschart leaves eight grandchildren - Michelle, Thea, Melissa, Ricky, Joseph, Jakob, Stephanie and Molly.

His funeral will be held on Wednesday, April 30 at the United Reform Church on Carnarvon Road at 2pm, followed by a burial at Burrs Road cemetery.

Friends and family are welcome.