A GRIEVING widow has thanked neighbours, friends and a hospice for their support after the death of her husband.

Dartmouth businessman Peter O'Sullivan died after losing his battle against cancer just seven years after moving to the town he loved to set up his plumbing operation.

Mr O'Sullivan finally lost his two-year fight against a rare form of liver cancer just over a fortnight ago, aged 44.

His wife, Martine, has thanked the town for its kindness and support over the two years Mr O'Sullivan battled the disease and fought to keep his business running at the same time.

Mr O'Sullivan, who had run his Dacy plumbing and heating business in Dartmouth for the last seven years, died at Rowcroft Hospice in Torquay on November 4.

He underwent five operations in the last two years in his battle against the disease and insisted on carrying on working right up to less than a month before his death, said Mrs O'Sullivan.

'We hadn't realised how quickly things could take a turn for the worse,' she said.

'He was brave and strong and fought really long and hard and was determined to get back on his feet and keep his business running.'

Mr O'Sullivan also left a son, aged 16 and a 14-year-old daughter. A small family service was held at St Petroc's Church in Dartmouth on Monday.

Mrs O'Sullivan said: 'We really want to say a big thank you to the whole community for their kindness and support over the last two years and the help they gave Peter to get back on his feet again.

'Our thanks also go out to all the doctors and nurses for the palliative care over the last six weeks that he had at home and to say how much it was all appreciated. And thanks to the nurses at Rowcroft. They are like angels there.'

Mr O'Sullivan was born in Shropshire but grew up in Hertfordshire where he became a plumber immediately after leaving school.

The family came to live in Townstal Pathfields seven years ago when Mr O'Sullivan decided to start up his own plumbing business.

Mrs O'Sullivan said: 'We used to come here on family holidays and fell in love with the place. We decided to move here and set up a business. He had always wanted his own business and the opportunity was here.'

She said Peter had first been diagnosed with an extremely rare form of cancer in October 2009 and had to have 70 percent of his liver removed.

'There was no treatment because it was such a rare form of cancer. All they could do was operate and remove the cancer.

'It was unfortunately very aggressive and came back really aggressively. In two years he had five more operations to keep on top of it but each time it spread to more and more organs. This year they told us they could not operate any more.'

She thanked the family's close friends and neighbours 'who did such a tremendous amount to help me in the last few weeks'.

Mrs O'Sullivan asked for any donations in memory of Peter to go to the hospice.

'I really want to thank the angels at Rowcroft who supported is through the last terrible days,' she added.