Jimmy, of Washington, vowed to beat cancer for the third time when he was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma – a cancer of the immune system – in September last year.

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Last month the former barman was admitted to intensive care at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle with kidney failure, just weeks after undergoing a second bone marrow transplant.

But while recovering, the 26-year-old caught a cold sore virus, which prevented the bone marrow working, attacking his immune system and causing his lips to swell.

His condition deteriated and he died in hospital on May 3 with his family at his bedside.

Speaking from their home, with hundreds of cards and flowers dotted around the living room, his family and girlfriend paid tribute to the man who never gave up and continued to make people smile up until his last days.

Jimmy's mum Barbara, 53, said: "It's hard to take that he battled against cancer all his life, but it was a cold sore that killed him. I've never heard of anything like it before.

"He was an amazing man. As you can see from the cards, he was really popular.

"He was really cheeky, but in a nice way, and always used to play tricks on everyone. I'll always remember his cheeky smile and eyes.

"Even when he was really ill at the end, just weeks before he died, nothing would get him down and he would always tell us not to stress. He was extremely ill, but he never complained."

Jimmy lived with his family in Stanhope, Oxclose, at the time of his death. He is survived by his mum, dad Jim, 56, brothers Mark, 20, and John, 22, and was planning to marry his girlfriend of three years Vicky Brewer, 22, next year.

Jimmy was first diagnosed with cancer at the age of 11, but just when his family thought he had fully recovered, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease – cancer of the white blood cells – at 13, and underwent his first bone marrow operation.

He won the Echo's Young Achiever Award in 1998 for the way he battled the illness.

When he left Oxclose Comprehensive School in Washington at the age of 16, he began work as a cutter for Custom Bags in Jarrow.

At 18, the Sunderland fan took up a part-time job at the Boldon Legion Club, in Boldon Colliery, as a barman.

After a few years, while still working at Custom bags during the day, became assistant manager at the Flat Tops pub, also Boldon Colliery, where he met Vicky.

At the age of 24, he left his job at Custom Bags and took up a full-time role as assistant manager at The River Bar in Washington.

When he fell ill last year, Vicky wanted to postpone her nursing course at Birmingham University. Now qualified, shesaid: "I just wanted to be with him, but he wouldn't let me.

"He told me he'd be waiting for me when I got back and that he didn't want to jeopardise my course."

Jimmy's funeral was this morning at Oxclose Church, Washington. His family have asked any friends or family to contribute to The Children's Cancer Fund, which helped him as a child.