A FUNERAL service is taking place in Dartmouth next week for Colin Edwards, who was found dead at St Barnabas Church in the town in August last year.

It is being held at St Saviour;s Church, Anzac Street, at 2pm, and will be conducted by the Rev Nick Debney.

Mr Edwards’ former partner, Kirsty Worthington, has created a GoFundMe website to raise funds for a memorial plaque and flowers.

She said: ‘In August 2015 my three children were left without a father. My children are 12, 10 and nine.

‘His family have paid for a basic service and cremation.

‘My children would very much like a place where they can go and visit and lay flowers and remember him in the place they grew up and lived with their fond memories of their father who suffered a troubled life and a horrific end.

‘I want my children to remember him as the kind, caring man he was.

‘It would mean so much to them and me if they could believe in kind, caring people again as my son especially is scared of people and misses his dad dearly.’

Donations totalling £215 so far have been made through the website.

Colin Edwards, 49, was found unresponsive at the bottom of stairs at St Barnabas Church in Newcomen Road on August 22.

St Barnabas Church is no longer used as a church buthouses people waiting for accommodation.

The inquest into his death was told paramedics attended and despite resuscitation attempts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

It was also told that Mr Edwards was single, lived in Jubilee Close, Dartmouth, and was an unemployed mason.

Dean Rosser, 48, also of Jubilee Close, has admitted the manslaughter of Colin Edwards. He had denied murder. Prosecutors accepted his plea to the lesser offence.

Rosser also admitted possession of class A drugs with intent to supply.

He was remanded in custody to await sentencing.