Tributes have been paid to a young aspiring hairdresser, Ben Thompson, of Chippenham, who was found dead at his home last week.

The 24-year-old grew up in the town and attended East Tytherton Maud Heath Primary School, before moving on to Hardenhuish School.

Until 18 months ago he lived in Broomfield with his mother, Hazel Rose.

But he decided to get a flat of his own and moved to Hungerdown Lane, where he lived with his cats Mac and Mambo.

After taking his GCSEs, he did a two-year apprenticeship in hairdressing, and was hoping to set himself up with a salon in Chippenham.

Mrs Rose said: “He always wanted to be a hairdresser and he was always fiddling with people’s hair.

“He loved doing it and he would have been really good at it, I think.

“He was very lovable, and he was beautiful inside and out. He loved people and he was really well liked.

“He was very outgoing and very popular, and then he had a sensitive vulnerable side, which he didn’t show to people.

“If any of his friends said there was anything wrong, or they needed help, he was always there for them.”

The night before his death, Mr Thompson visited his mum and said he would see her the next day.

Mrs Rose said: “There didn’t seem to be anything wrong and he was in such a good mood, which is why it came as such a shock.

“He was just his usual self.”

He leaves two half sisters, Naomi and Rebecca, nephews Brendan, 16, and Callum, 11, and three-year-old niece Anais.

“He was very close to his nephews and nieces,” Mrs Rose said.

“He loved them all and they were very fond of him too.

“He was just a lovely person and this has really devastated us all.”

Mr Thompson’s funeral is expected to take place on Tuesday at St Paul’s Church, with a wake at the Gladstone Arms to follow. All friends are welcome.