A NEWPORT family spoke of their sadness at the death of their sports-loving son on Christmas Day, just a day after his 33rd birthday. Matthew Paul Clarke died at his home on Buxton Close.

His mother Janet, 53, said the family, including Mr Clarke's father Terry, 53, and twin 26-year-old sisters Rachel and Kate, were distraught at his loss.

His pregnant sister Rachel is expecting a baby son later this month and now plans to call him Jack Matthew in memory of her brother. Mr Clarke was very close to Rachel's elder son, his five-year-old nephew Ben.

His mother said: "He loved children and was always playing with Ben." On his Christmas Eve birthday, the day before his death, Mr Clarke visited his parents in the morning.

Mrs Clarke said he appeared to be in fine spirits. "He spent an hour up here and seemed happy. He was watching a film with Ben and they were laughing together."

An inquest will now determine how Mr Clarke died. Mr Clarke worked for Tesco in Magor as an operational support manager. Between the ages of 16 and 21 he was a radio operator for the Royal Navy.

His father said: "Wherever he was in the world he would ring home and say he wished he was here.

"He was a proper Welshman. He had learnt some Welsh and he was very proud of his country."

In 2003 Mr Clarke competed in a triathlon in Portugal, raising more than £1,000 for charity.

His mother said she had been overwhelmed by the number of people who had written, phoned and visited to express their sadness at her son's death.

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She said the family was grateful for everyone's support. Mr Clarke's funeral service will take place on Friday at 11am at All Saints Church, Brynglas.

The family have requested donations in lieu of flowers to be made to the RSPCA c/o funeral home Michael G Ryan and Son on Malpas Road. The cause of Mr Clarke's death will be determined at an inquest.