Grieving mum Hazel Rose has spoken of the last hours she enjoyed with her only son before he was found dead.

Ben Thompson, 24, was discovered dead at his flat in Hungerdown Lane, Chippen-ham, on the morning of July 13, just hours after he kissed his mum goodbye.

Mrs Rose, of Broomfield, said: “We were absolutely shocked. I only saw him the night before, when he left here at 1.45am. The next thing I knew we had the police at the door.

“He was with two friends and they came up to my house to see me. I had gone to bed but I stayed up and had a little drink with them – he was so happy.

“Then, when he left, he kissed me and hugged me and said ‘goodbye, I’ll see you tomorrow’. There didn’t seem to be anything wrong and he was in such a good mood.”

Mr Thompson also leaves his father, Michael, and half sisters Naomi and Rebecca.

Mrs Rose described her son, who had trained as a hairdresser, as a fun loving sociable young man, who had a large group of friends.

“He was very lovable,” she said. “And he was beautiful inside and out. He loved people and he was really well liked. If any of his friends said there was anything wrong, or they needed help, he was always there for them.”

See also the obituary