A POPULAR fish and chip shop owner from the Willows in Torquay has died after losing her two-year battle against breast cancer.

Sandra Smith, 37, was the owner of Crusoes Fish Bar, which opened to acclaim last year shortly after doctors told her she had beaten the disease.

But the cancer returned and Sandra (pictured) died on Saturday morning at Rowcroft Hospice.

Her devastated family have been stunned by the loss of someone so young who 'fought to the end'.

She had planned to marry her fiancee and business partner Grant Robinson in Paignton in the summer.

He said: "She stayed brave, kept fighting and never once complained about the illness.

"Even three days before she died she was joking, laughing and singing with us. What has happened is just devastating. She was so young and brave."

Sandra was first diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago but had battled through all the chemotherapy to be given the all clear.

The pair opened Crusoes to mark a new beginning.

Grant said: "We decided to do something together by opening the business but about a week before it opened she was told it had come back again."

The couple had been looking forward to a wedding in June but the cancer spread to her liver, spine and brain.

The family praised the care Sandra received at Rowcroft.

Grant said: "They have been amazing. Family have been turning up from all over the world but they have never once turned any of us away.

"All the nurses and counsellors were so shocked by what happened. Until you are put in that situation you don't realise what a good job they do. They cared for her in a dignified way.

"When she died she had everyone in there around her. She was organised to the end."

Sister Janet flew in from Australia to be at her bedside when she died.

She said: "Sandra was always strong and instead of the cancer having a negative impact on her life she saw this as her chance to do all the things she wanted to do and it was because of the cancer that she could do that."

She said Grant had protected her and they had 'created memories' together, including a trip to Paris.

"Despite the fact that she was extremely ill at the time nothing was going to stand in the way of them both making memories," said Janet.

Sandra was born in Australia but moved to Torbay when she was 16. She met Grant soon after while working in McDonald's.

She forged a successful 20-year career managing outlets in Torquay, Paignton and Newton Abbot. Staff even stopped work for a time yesterday as a mark of respect for their colleague.

A spokesman for McDonald's said: "Sandra was a well-loved and valued member of our team. She brought energy and enthusiasm to our team and she will be sorely missed. Our thoughts are with her friends and family at this difficult time."

The funeral is due to take place at the catholic church in St Marychurch on Monday.