COLIN Antrobus, the manager at the Clarendon shopping centre, Oxford, has died from cancer at the age of 70.

He was working from his hospital bed until his last few days in the John Radcliffe.

Mr Antrobus had managed the centre for the past five years.

Susie Dawson, a spokesman for the Clarendon Centre, said: "Tenants in the centre have just been informed and staff are very shocked.

"This has been a real shock for everyone because Colin was at work just a couple of weeks ago."

Mr Antrobus lived with his wife Veronica in Wendlebury, near Bicester, and has a grown-up daughter, Nicky.

Bill McCardle, a spokesman for Oxford city centre management OX1, said: "He has been a leading light in the work of OX1 over the past few years, instrumental in setting up the organisation and an integral part of all we have achieved. He will be a great loss to Oxford."

Debbie Dance, director of the Oxford Preservation Trust, added: "Colin was a fine man and an excellent colleague, with great integrity and loyalty.

"He gave much to Oxford through his work with OX1, over and above his duty at the Clarendon Centre.

"His breadth of knowledge about retailing and mangement was apparent throughout all our discussions, which he delivered with a great sense of balance and humour."

Athena Koumi, store manager of The Perfume Shop in the centre, said: "I burst into tears when I heard. Colin was like a dad to me. He was always there for me.

"When he first went into hospital, the girls from the The Perfume Shop got him a teddy, which he loved, and he always had it by his bedside right to the end."

Mr Antrobus's funeral was held at St Giles Church in Wendlebury yesterday.