THE family of a man killed after a house blaze in Newport today spoke of their grief at the loss of a "wonderful person".

Rugby-fan Julian Davies, 31, died of smoke inhalation at the Royal Gwent Hospital after the blaze at his home in Black Road, Lliswerry, on Sunday morning.

The 31-year-old, who worked with computers, was originally from Swansea but studied in Newport, where he met his partner, and had recently moved to the city.

His parents Malcolm and Linda Davies, of Gorseinon, Swansea, three brothers Andrew, Jonathon and Timothy and sisters Jayne and Tracey are said to be devastated.

His partner Charlotte is being comforted by her family in Newport along with their one-year-old son Scott.

His brother Jonathan said: "He was such a wonderful person. A better brother you couldn't wish to have.

"We are a close knit family, even last Sunday we were kicking a football about together. As brothers we always played sport together.

"He will be missed by all of us and it's so hard for us to accept he's lost." The cause of the fire is still being investigated, but fire chiefs say they are not treating the incident as suspicious.

Mr Davies, who lived at the property with his partner and their son, was the only person in the house at the time of the fire.

Neighbours raised the alarm when smoke was spotted pouring from the eaves of the terraced house at about 9.20am.

The funeral is on May 27 at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Swansea. Interment is at Kingsbridge Cemetery at 2pm.