Shropshire-born BBC Radio Derby presenter Colin Bloomfield dies aged 33

Originally from Shropshire, he was a popular broadcaster on BBC Radio Derby and touched thousands of listeners with his openness and optimism as he battled skin cancer.

A charity appeal prompted by his diagnosis has so far raised more than £62,000 in just over two months.

Colin, of Montford Bridge, near Shrewsbury, who worked at BBC Radio Derby for 10 years as a presenter, reporter and a Derby County commentator, died at a hospice near the family home.

He had a malignant melanoma removed from his leg 10 years ago, but in 2013 learned the cancer had returned.

Last year, he was told it had spread and was given months to live.

Radio Derby's editor Simon Cornes said: "Reporter, producer, commentator, presenter - Colin was all of those.

"You're lucky in radio if you're good at one of these things but Colin's talent was a rare one and he was extraordinarily accomplished at all of them. He made it seem easy. We know it isn't.

"If you were designing the perfect colleague you'd come up with Colin. His modesty was disarming but it was his warmth and his positive attitude to life that made him so popular with everyone at Radio Derby.

"We've lost our friend but it's a mark of the man that so many of our listeners feel they've lost their friend too. All of us are going to miss him dreadfully."

Derby County spokesman Colin Gibson, who had worked with Colin at BBC Radio Derby, said: "As a broadcaster he was the consummate professional."

Derby County president Sam Rush said: "He will be sadly missed by everyone at Derby County Football Club as we had a tremendous working relationship with him.

"He can only be described as an inspirational individual and both a wonderful and humble young man."

Colin was a former Shrewsbury Sixth Form student and pupil of Bicton School in Shrewsbury and Corbett School in Baschurch.

His father Lawrie was BBC Radio Shropshire's first managing editor after its creation in 1985.

Earlier this year, working with the charity Skcin, Colin launched the Colin Bloomfield Melanoma Appeal.

The money will be used to make hundreds of schools in Derbyshire and East Staffordshire "sun safe", by educating youngsters about skin cancer prevention.