THE widow of a much-loved Tesco worker who was struck down by meningitis has spoken of his sudden death.

Ken Clark, 46, was well known as the fishmonger who put a smile on everyone's faces at the store, in Prince Avenue, Westcliff.

Customers have been signing a memorial book for him placed on his counter.

A minute's silence was held at the store during his funeral, and by friends of his daughter Megan, 12, at Southend High School for Girls.

The father-of-three died of meningococcal septicaemia on Boxing Day, only displaying flu-like symptoms the day before.

His wife Dawn, of Hornby Avenue, Westcliff, said he had worked a night shift until 9am on Christmas Eve and felt fine.

It was only when they arrived at her brother's house in Buckinghamshire that he began to feel ill.

She said: "By the lunchtime on Christmas Day, he was shivery and had pain in both legs. We thought it was flu. He was sick a couple of times and a lot of people had had gastric flu.

"He got sick in the night and had constant pain in both legs. By the time we got to hospital it was 5am. They tried for nearly an hour and a half to resuscitate him, but they couldn't."

She added: "It's just the speed of this thing. It's a wicked disease."

He was taken to a hospital in High Wycombe, where he died at 6am. It was only then his wife spotted purple spots on his legs.

A female member of staff at the Tesco's store also came down with meningitis in the New Year, though it is thought to be a different strain. She is recovering at home.

Mrs Clark, 47, said her husband would be remembered as a caring person who would chat to anyone, which is why hundreds of people turned out pay their respects at Southend Crematorium on January 8.

A full guard of honour was provided for his funeral by Hockley British Legion, which he had been a member of since he left the Army in 1989 - excelling on their cribbage team.

Mrs Clark said she was grateful to family, friends, colleagues and Tesco customers who have shown their support. She also thanked everyone who had made donations to the British Legion to mark Mr Clark's death.

She added: "Once you met him you wouldn't forget him.

"He was very cheeky. He had an answer for anything.

"If you went to pay for something in a shop he'd have to chat to people on the till, he was always that way." Mr Clark also leaves his daughter Hannah Swaine, 24, and son Toby Clark, who now lives in Australia.

A Tesco spokeswoman said: "We give our utmost sympathy to the family."

She added: "Everybody at the store was given treatment to ensure they were OK. Someone else was diagnosed, but they are coming through."