MONEY is being raised to pay for a funeral of a Newport Big Issue seller who made a “big impact” on the charity.

Roy Williams died aged 57 on April 17 after spending seven years selling the magazine in the streets of the city.

Claire Bissett of the Big Issue Foundation said he was “lovely” and the charity hopes to help raise £3,000 to help his family with funeral costs.

Mr Williams had sold the magazine outside Boots in Commercial Street since 2008, and lived in a flat in the city.

Ms Bissett, regional business engagement officer for Big Issue Cymru, said: “Everybody knew him, they always looked out for him and would go and try and find him.

“He was lovely, he was really friendly, really polite, he always had time for everybody.

“He had a lot of regulars who would buy the magazine from him and he had a great relationship with the shop over the road, they would always bring him cups of tea.

“He’s a stand alone guy, he made a big impact on the Big Issue.”

Mr Williams was also a big snooker fan and would regularly play with a snooker club in Newport. He was thrilled to meet his hero Jimmy White.

The charity has already raised £610 towards funeral and burial costs, and have arranged for Mr Williams to be buried alongside his parents in Merthyr Tydfil.

On the charity’s Justgiving page, it says the money will help give Mr Williams the “the send off he deserves”.

It adds: “The family has lost a great man, let’s not give them this to worry about as well.”

Mr Williams’s funeral will be held on Tuesday, May 5, at Ty Davies Funeral Home in Merthyr Tydfil from 1.30pm, followed by burial at Pant Cemetery from 2pm.

To donate to the funeral cause, visit justgiving.com/Claire-Bissett3/.