THE FAMILY of a popular Highbridge businessman who lost his life to cancer have set up a cafe in his memory.

Ray Keedwell set up transport business, RT Keedwell Group, at the Warlow Industrial Estate in 1969 with just one truck, and a determination to work hard.

His business grew and he became a popular figure in Burnham and Highbridge with his business now boasting a fleet of 500 trucks and a network of depots.

But in a tragic turn of events, Ray was diagnosed with cancer in June this year and died just ten days later.

As a lasting tribute to him, Ray's family have opened a up cafe on the industrial estate called 'Ray's Roadhouse'.

Dee Keedwell, part owner of Ray's Roadhouse said she hopes the new cafe will be a lasting tribute to her father-in-law.

"We were getting plans together to set up the cafe before Ray died and after he was diagnosed we decided to name it Ray's Roadhouse as a tribute to him," she said.

"We showed him the designs and the plans that we had for the cafe before he died and when we told him we wanted to name it after him he was really touched.

"Ray was well known and well liked around Burnham and Highbridge and we wanted to create a nice place in his memory.

The business is mainly staffed by members of the Keedwell family and Dee said there has been a steady stream of customers coming through the doors.

"The business has been doing well, we have a good flow of regular customers coming in as well as some local people who are coming and using this as a meeting place now" she said.

"The cafe has been open for about a month now and we have had such a positive response from people which has been lovely.

"I am hope that we continue to have customers coming in and that this will be a lasting tribute to Ray."