A former Ashby doctor has died of Coronavirus while working at the age of 78 - making him the seventh GP in the UK to fall victim to Covid-19).

Dr Kamlesh Masson came to the UK in 1973 after completing his medical training in India and working as a doctor in East Africa.

He worked in Barking, Ashby De La Zouch and Kings Lynn before settling with his family in Essex.

Dr Masson worked at the Ashby Health Centre on North Street for one year from August 1, 1974, to July 31, 1975 as a trainee GP.

He worked with Dr VA Church, Dr RA Davies, Dr D Happel, Dr J Hoffman and Dr WJ Stedman.

Kamlesh worked with Dr Motashaw at Heath Road in Chadwell and Balfour Road, in Grays, surgeries before founding the Milton Road Surgery in Grays in 1985, where he practiced until 2017.

He then went on to do locum work across Thurrock and Basildon until his last working day of March 17, 2020.

Dr Masson was a well-regarded clinician who practised medicine for over 50 years, serving the NHS for 47 years as GP and family doctor to several generations.

An obituary for Dr Masson said he was a fine example of what frontline general practice was and should be.

Dr Masson's career came to an end last month, when he unfortunately contracted COVID-19 while working.

This caused bilateral pneumonia requiring admission to Basildon Hospital on March 22, and then UCLH on March 31, 2020, his 78th birthday.

But he tragically lost his battle with COVID-19 on April 16.

His family said Kamlesh will be missed dearly by them and anyone fortunate to have known this committed, generous and loving man.