The popular 26-year-old had vowed to beat cancer for the third time when he was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma – a cancer of the immune system – in September last year.

And last month, the former barman was rushed to intensive care at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary with kidney failure, just one month after undergoing a bone marrow transplant for the second time in his life.

But while recovering, Mr Mulley caught a cold-sore virus, which prevented the bone marrow working, attacking his immune system, causing his lips to swell.

Sadly, Mr Mulley's condition deteriorated and he died on May 3, his distraught family were at his hospital bedside.

Today, speaking from their home where cards and flowers fill the living room, his proud family and girlfriend paid tribute to the man who never gave up and continued to make people smile until his last days.

Mum Barbara, 53, said: "It's hard to take that he battled against cancer all his life, but it was a cold-sore that killed him – I've never heard of anything like it before."

She added: "Jimmy was an amazing man, as you can see from the cards, he was really popular.

"He was cheeky, but in a nice way, and always used to play tricks on everyone. I'll always remember his cheeky smile and eyes.

"He used to tell us off for fussing over him because he always used to put other people first, it was never about him.

"Even when he was very ill at the end, just weeks before he died, nothing got him down and he never complained."

Born in South Shields, Mr Mulley lived with his family in Stanhope, Washington, at the time of his death.

He is survived by his mum, dad Jim, 56, two brothers Mark, 20, and John, 22, and was planning to marry his girlfriend of three-years Vicky Brewer, 22, next year.

Mr Mulley was first diagnosed with cancer at the age of 11, but just when his family thought he had fully recovered, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease – cancer of the white blood cells – at 13, and underwent his first bone marrow operation.

As soon as he left Oxclose Comprehensive in Washington at the age of 16, Mr Mulley began work as a cutter for Custom Bags, then based at the Royal Industrial Estate in Jarrow.

When he reached 18, the Sunderland fan took up a part-time job at the Boldon Legion Club in Boldon Colliery, as a barman.

After a few years, while still working at Custom Bags during the day, he moved on to be assistant manager at the Flat Tops pub, also Boldon Colliery, and at the age of 24, Mr Mulley took up a full-time role as assistant manager at The River Bar in Washington.

When he fell ill last year, Miss Brewer wanted to postpone her nursing course at Birmingham University.

The now qualified nurse said: "I just wanted to be with him, but he wouldn't let me, he said he'd be waiting for me when I get back and didn't want to jeopardise my course."

She added: "He always wanted his own bar and he loved doing things lads his age normally enjoy, like playing pool, and we used to go to a caravan in Haltwhistle.

"In fact, he thought he was so good at pool he even used to call himself Jimmy O'Sullivan, after his favourite player Ronnie O'Sullivan. We're all really going to miss him."

Mr Mulley's funeral took place today at Oxclose Church, Washington, and his family have urged people to contribute to The Children's Cancer Fund, which helped Mr Mulley as a child.

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