COMPANY bosses today pledged to fit a permanent memorial to an employee who died of cancer.

Star Wars fan James Boyes, 24, of New Lane, Oswaldtwistle, died in May this year after battling against cancer for two years.

James, who had been studying for his MA at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston when he was diagnosed with the disease, had worked at Oswaldtwistle Mills doing a variety of jobs since he was 16.

Today Craig Bromley, who is retail manager at the shopping complex, said they were planning on planting a tree and installing a plaque in his name.

A cheque for £561 was also due to be handed over to the East Lancashire branch of Christies Against Cancer as a tribute to James. This was raised at a craft weekend held at the mills.

The event included a tombola, a card swap and other attractions, where visitors paid £2 for tea or coffee and helped demonstrators make a personalised card to take home.

Mr Bromley paid tribute to James and said: "We are hoping to put up a plaque in the very near future with James' name on it and plant a tree in the grounds as a permanent tribute to James.

"He starting working for us as a car park attendant when he was a student and quickly progressed to being a weekend receptionist, as well as working on the check-outs.

"He was such a valuable member of staff. Unfortunately he was struck with cancer and he struggled with it for a couple of years but he still managed to carry on working here.

"He was still a cheerful lad despite his illness and it never seemed to get him down.

"That is one of the reasons why we decided to hold the craft weekend and donate the proceeds to the Christie Hospital where he spent so much of his time."