THE family of a 41-year-old man who was fatally stabbed last month in Barry have paid tribute to him on the eve of his funeral, saying he 'lived his short life to the full'.

The funeral of father-of-two Paul Michael Jones will take place at Adams Funeral Home at 11am on Monday (September 7) before his burial at Barry Cemetery in the same grave as his father Philip, who died ten years ago this year.

Mr Jones, of Caradoc Avenue – known as Jonah – was a scaffolder who had done contract work at Aberthaw Power Station. He died following an incident in Columbus Close, Gibbonsdown, Barry, on Monday, August 3.

A tribute group – RIP Jonah – on social networking site Facebook, has so far attracted more than 900 followers.

Mum Maria Jones, sisters Sharon Jones and Angela Hobbs and brother Philip thanked the well-wishers who had left tributes on the internet, and those who had sent cards and flowers.

They said that the death of the former Colcot Primary and Barry Boys pupil had not yet sunk in.

Maria, 64, said her son was an animal lover who had owned dogs and ferrets – his last Jack Russell, Missy, having been homed from Croft Rescue Kennels in Bridgend.

She said: "He used to walk that dog for miles, and he loved his ferrets when he was younger.

"He couldn’t stand caged animals, and I remember finding owls in my shed."

Paul, known to regulars at the Colcot Arms and The Billy (King William IV), was also known for his partying and love of dancing.

Younger sister Sharon, 37, said: "He once kept me out until 4am dancing with him. "He loved going to festivals – he went to Glastonbury and he also went to Spain to the festivals and Thailand for a month.

"He liked having fun and he lived for today.

"He was very generous and a very kind person when he wanted to be," she added.

"A woman in town had her purse stolen and he gave her money for the bus home. She didn’t know him, but he was like that."

Sister Angela, 46, said: ""He was a very unlucky person."

"When he was four he got in the car, took the handbrake off and drove down the bank.

"It was fortunate he drove into a wall – but he hit the only concrete post, all the rest were wooden."

"It’s like he’s still here," she added.

"I think when the funeral is over we can all start grieving."

John Austin Chivers, aged 30, of Cardiff Road, Barry, has been charged with murder and will appear at Cardiff Crown Court next month. He denies the murder charge.