JAYCEE Armytage, a successful, well-known Kendal antiques dealer and rental van driver from Australia, has died aged 56.

He was born in Brisbane in 1949 but, unfortunately, his Kendal-born father died when he was just two-years-old.

His fascination with tracing his father's past eventually led him to the South Lakeland town and he instantly fell in love with the area, making many visits before moving here later in his life.

After leaving school, he soon became interested in the antiques trade and went on to own several shops throughout Australia during a successful 34-year period.

It was love at first sight when he met his wife, Helen, in 1966 after he saw her walking down the street with her twin sister while he was cruising the streets with his friends.

The couple connected with each other immediately and married just one year later, having one child, Tina.

When his sister tragically died, Mr Armytage and his wife selflessly agreed to raise her three children, Norman, Toni and Greg, as their own.

Following the death of his wife in 1998, he decided to fulfil his lifelong dream and eventually emigrated to Kendal, setting up two businesses, Cumbria Antiques and A Man and a Van.

A keen snooker player, Mr Armytage regularly played for a local team and enjoyed socialising with his friends at the Kendal Arms pub.

He was also fond of his black Trans Am vehicle, for which he was well-known, and he regularly took it for long drives to admire the local scenery he loved so much.

As well as his daughter and stepchildren, he leaves behind two grandchildren, Perrin and Harley.

His daughter, Tina Price, described him as a very strong man both mentally and physically.