A “LOVEABLE rogue,” whose body was found in a canal, was the type of person who would do anything for anyone, his grieving family said.

The body of Kieron Lilley, 24, was found in Rotherham, where he was staying with his uncle.

He is believed to have had a heart attack and fallen into the water more than three weeks ago, but his body has only recently been found.

Mr Lilley, an industrial roofer, suffered from severe asthma and an enlarged heart, and his 47-year-old mother, Michelle Lewis, said drink, drugs and society, had “failed him” in life.

Childhood sweetheart Tracy Middleton, 21, with whom he had a ten-month-old son, Freddie, said Mr Lilley was the life and soul of Witham’s Hatfield Road estate.

He would help old ladies with their shopping, and taught a lot of the children on the estate how to play football, she said.

She and Kieron’s mum said the whole family – Kieron’s brothers, Kurtis, 22, Jamie, 19, Bradley, 18, and sister Sophie, 16 – were in complete shock.

Mrs Lewis, a carer at Park View residential home, Witham, said: “Kieron was such a kind-hearted, generous child. He would give his last sweet to anybody. He would walk in a room and light it up. He was warm hearted, and lived life to the full.”

Miss Middleton, who grew up on the estate with Kieron, said: “He was one in a million.”

Mr Lilley went to Howbridge infant and junior schools then John Bramston, which is now Maltings Academy.

He also played football with youth teams Witham Nomads, Valley Green and at Notley.

His funeral will be on Wednesday, December 15, at 12.30pm, at St Nicolas Church, Witham.