TRIBUTES have poured in for a popular musician who has lost his brave battle with throat cancer.

Dad-of-two Steve Charles, from Dorchester, died peacefully at the age of 56 in the Joseph Weld Hospice after fighting the disease for three years.

His parents, Elizabeth and Robert Charles, were at Steve’s side when he passed away on Wednesday afternoon.

They praised the ‘marvellous’ reaction of Steve’s friends and the local community who raised funds for him during his treatment as well as the care he received at the hospice.

As part of Steve’s legacy, a new charity will be set up to help local people who suffer from cancer using cash from the Help a Friend Help a Friend fund that was established to help him through his illness.

A Facebook group Gone But Not Forgotten has been started for Steve’s friends to pay tribute to the former Nobby’s Cousins frontman.

More than 100 members had joined within hours of it being set up.

Mr Charles said his son ‘would do anything for anyone’ and showed tremendous fight throughout his battle with cancer.

He said in the last few weeks Steve was severely affected by the ‘killer disease’ but continued to show fighting spirit and courage.

Mrs Charles said: “In the last week he couldn’t speak any more and had to write things down. For the last three or four days he couldn’t see anyone any more and was just lying there, breathing.

Mr Charles added: “He was, in my opinion, beyond a hero because for anybody to put up with that is unimaginable. He had the strongest heart and lungs. Anybody with less than that would have gone, but he hung on for days.”

Steve’s daughter Ria Charles, 28, was inspired by her dad’s courage as she ran the Race for Life last month and raised £289 for cancer causes. She said: “There are so many words that could be used to describe my dad and so many things that could be said.

“Yet at this time I struggle. All I know is that I was his Bungle, his little girl, and I always will be and I will always love him forever.”

Steve was given hope after hearing he was suitable for a laser trial to fight his tumours, but his cancer returned after the first session, this time more aggressively than ever.

His unfulfilled dream was to live long enough to attend his 29-year-old son Stefan’s wedding as best man.

Steve’s parents were at his hospice bedside, along with his sisters – Petra Osborne, Rosita Clarke and Serena Parvin – when their son finally lost his battle.

Mrs Charles said: “Usually so many people came to see him but at that time it was just us and our three daughters and it was very peaceful.

“We shall never come to terms with it.”

Mr Charles added: “It is something I will never forget, the whole family was around the bed and I held him in my arms for 15 minutes talking to him.

“That will always remain with me.”