A FAMILY building firm has been forced to close after its managing director contracted cancer.

Martin Fenn is suffering from leukaemia and has been forced to shut Oakwood Builders and Joinery in Benson while he undergoes treatment at the Churchill Hospital, Headington. Fifteen jobs have been lost as a result.

Mr Fenn, 31, took over the business three years ago from his brother Tim, who is now part of the P3 Eco consortium developing plans for the proposed Bicester eco town development.

Tim said: “Martin started having nose bleeds and had bruising and when he went to hospital for a check-up they kept him in and he was diagnosed with leukaemia. I have gone back into the business to try and tie up all the loose ends but it has been a nightmare. You don’t expect this sort of thing to happen to such a young lad.”

Oakwood, set up by the Fenn brothers’ father, Patrick, in 1963, specialised in repairing churches and other ecclesiastical buildings. In 1997, Tim Fenn took it over and built up the business to provide a range of services from small residential alterations and renovations to new-build projects.

Tim became involved in projects to build carbon neutral homes which led him to hand the business to his brother. By the time he left, it employed more than 40 workers. But the business shrank in the recession and Tim said he had dismisssed the idea of selling the firm. He said: “I don’t think there is a market for building companies in this day and age.”

But he added that an offshoot company, Oakwood Specialist Joiners, also in Benson, which employs seven staff would continue to trade and it is hoped Martin would head it.