NEWPORT-BORN Hollywood star Michael Sheen stepped in to stop a Valleys pensioner having a pauper's funeral.

The South Wales actor donated money to help 74-year-old Dave Green from Pontlottyn who has died after suffering from lung cancer.

The pair met while filming the BBC Wales programme, Valleys Rebellion in Newport.

Sheen tweeted: "I met Dave Green making my documentary. He was a member of the United Valleys Action Group. It gave him a platform - he made full use of it."

Having promoted the justgiving site to fund Dave's funeral, he later said it was his "honour" to help, adding: "A huge thank you to everyone that has donated towards Dave's funeral so far. Your generosity and kindness is deeply appreciated."

His friend of four years and the vice-chairman of the United Valleys Action Group Eddy Blanche said of Mr Green: “He was a really nice bloke and he loved being the centre of attention.”

Mr Blanche said the brilliant response to the campaign, which has been shared online by people as far away as Las Vegas, has “really restored [his] faith in humanity”.

The group is also looking to establish a trust fund which will be used to pay for other funerals for people who are unable to pay for their own.