Jim Lawson, the founder and longstanding owner and manager of Lawson's Haulage Ltd., has passed away.

His family took to Facebook to announce his passing and said: "We are devastated and heartbroken by the sudden passing of our amazing beloved, husband/dad/grandfather, boss and wonderful friend to many."

His daughter, Pauline Lawson, who spoke of his legacy and the memories he will leave behind: "He has built this business up from his bare hands.

"He worked so hard all of his life.

"He was very well respected, and his company has become an empire.

"He was such a grafter, and his physical strength was great, he was as strong as an ox.

"Everyone who met him would be taken by him, he had good friends all over the country, and into Scotland too, he was very loyal.

"He has now left us with this empire to take care of, he asked us to take care of it after he died.

"He worked all his life, and his wife Eileen has sacrificed a lot as well for the company, she supported him every step of the way.

"For many years the business was just run hrom the kitchen table - often he was using two phones at once.

"Workers would come in and get cups of tea all round, and sometimes stay for supper, he treated the workers like a family.

"From a small start, the family has gotten a lot bigger now, he thought the world of all his staff.

"Dad got diagnosed with cancer before he died, but he got better.

"He was a strong fighter, I would say he never lost a fight in his life.

"Unfortunately, the only fight he lost was to pneumonia, which he died of in hospital.

"My brother Raymond is now running the company with me, and I am mainly based in the office.

"He has had such a rich life of success, love and respect by all."