A FAMILY has paid tribute to doctors who gave them four 'bonus' years with their son and brother after he was diagnosed with a late-stage rare cancer.

Craig Jones, 30, died at Airedale General Hospital surrounded by his family after putting up a brave fight to battle the blood cancer which had spread through his body - despite being in remission for six months after a stem cell transplant from a German donor.

Mr Jones, of Bolton, Bradford, had been diagnosed in 2011 by doctors at the hospital in Steeton, who went on to refer him for specialist treatment at The Christie in Manchester after fearing they had run out of treatment options and he might have had only weeks left to live.

His sister Cheryl Jones, 34, of Skipton, said: "That was two years ago - so in all we had four extra years with Craig that we might not have had if it hadn't been for the terrific care he got from doctors at Airedale Hospital and the experts at Manchester.

"After the first two years of treating Craig at Airedale they simply had nothing left in the cupboard for him and suggested he go to The Christie. They won us time and we are so thankful and full of praise for that."

Ms Jones who also works at the family business in Idle where her brother worked as a project manager designing security doors for banks, said he would also be greatly missed by his work colleagues as he had worked there since leaving school after taking his GCSEs.

Colleagues at DSD Ltd will be having a "Craigy' day on the day of his funeral on Friday, April 24, when the business will shut as a mark of respect and staff will wait on the car park wearing pink ties for his hearse to pass on his way to his funeral at Nab Wood.

Ms Jones said her brother, who loved life, friends and fast cars and motorbikes, had first been rushed to Airedale Hospital after collapsing in the shower.

He had lost lots of weight in a very short time but had put it down to a possible ulcer.

However, after a series of tests doctors discovered he had a blood cancer so rare "it was out of textbook land" said Ms Jones. Even specialist staff at The Christie had not seen a case like his for 15 years. At diagnosis it was already classed as having spread.

Treatment he had at The Christie made him well enough to have a stem cell transplant at Christmas 2013 and he went into remission for six months but then symptoms started to show again and the cancer eventually took grip once more.

Ms Jones said her brother fought the disease, she said: "Craig was a typical fighter.

"He loved life and had everything to live for. He had a fiancee and they were starting a new business together. He was cheeky, had a good wit, twinkly eyes and just cared about everyone. He was a genuine person. His family, friends and work colleagues all loved him."