A popular Hitchin pop-up business celebrated the birthday of its much-loved inspiration on Friday.

Gourmet coffee wagon Jamnspoon, part of the Marley Coffee social enterprise licensed by Bob Marley’s son Rohan, commemorated what would have been the 70th birthday of the legendary Jamaican reggae singer-songwriter and musician who performed in the town in 1973, before achieving worldwide fame.

Marley’s Rasta barista Boxer, who lives in the town and serves coffee from a riverside spot at the market, told the Comet: “Bob Marley is a hero to so many people.

“Many have a genuine love for the man and his music.

“By us celebrating the day of his birth, and by playing his music when we make our coffees, I have found there’s a renewed interest in him, which is great.

“We also want to spread his message of peace and love which the world so desperately needs right now.

“He was a committed Rastafari who infused his music with a sense of spirituality and love.

“I also want to ‘big-up’ his son Rohan for keeping up the good work Bob started.”

Fellow barista Roy Stewart, known as Judah, added: “We do this every year on his birthday. It’s brilliant he is being acknowledged.

“He was so many things to people as a reggae icon and as a musical prophet. People can relate to his spiritual and his physical life more than ever now.

Jamnspoon and Marley Coffee help support communities and the environment through organic, sustainable and ethical practices, and are looking to make their presence in the town more permanent than a van.

Jamnspoon director Marc Binsted explained: “We want to raise funds to secure a premises in Hitchin, and connect with social and probation services to enable training and recruitment of baristas.”

For more information visit facebook.com/jamnspoon.uk.