A COMMUNITY is set to pay its respects to a devoted father and aspiring musician who died near an Ellesmere pub.

The funeral of Daniel Williams, 38, will be held at Pentrebychan Crematorium at 12pm on Wednesday, April 3.

Daniel's mother Jenny Williams told how the family had been left "devastated" after the father-of-four was found on the ground on Birch Road earlier this month.

But she added that they had gained comfort from the fact that several members of the public tried to help Daniel before emergency services arrived.

"It is so nice to know that that there were people with him, caring and kind people," she said.

"That helps so much, we're so grateful."

Mrs Williams told how her son, who had previously lived in the Somerset/Dorset area, had returned to Ellesmere in December and was pursuing a career as a sound artist after spending around 15 years as a chef.

During that time he cooked for several celebrities, including members of the Royal Family.

The former Lakelands Academy pupil studied land management at Walford College before following a different path at the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford.

It was there that Daniel discovered his future career as a chef, Mrs Williams said.

"He started working as a chef and found that he really liked it and went from strength to strength," she said.

Daniel decided to change his career after working as a commercial chef, his mother said, adding that he was building a following online as a sound artist, combining sounds from every day life with playing multiple instruments.

"Daniel was fun and he was fun to be with. He made friends wherever he went," his mother said.

Mrs Williams said that Daniel was a "brilliant" father to Lily, 11, Amber, seven, Adam, five, and four-year-old George.

"Whatever he did, the most important thing in his life has been his children. He absolutely adored them and they adore him," she said.

A collection will be held at the funeral in aid of an appeal for a defibrillator at the Base Camp gym in Ellesmere, and for activities aimed at children and young people at Our Space.