THREE brothers have paid tribute to a "loveable rogue" who tragically died after an incident in a York street.

Dave, John and Paul Williams told mourners how their brother, Mike, was a party animal with a spiritual side, who had turned his life around after meeting his 23-year-old partner Tara.

Dave said Mike's legacy lived on in his little children, Shannon and Lennon, who were too young to attend the funeral.

John said: "He has left a massive hole in so many people's lives. He will be sadly missed."

Paul read out a poem by singer Paul Weller, formerly frontman of The Jam, a band which Mike loved.

He said The Lambretta Love Poem was about a Lambretta SX scooter, but it could also be applied to Mike's feelings towards Tara.

One of the floral tributes was also a representation of a Lambretta scooter.

The funeral took place at St James and St Philips Church, Clifton, yesterday, about a month after Mike's death in hospital. He had suffered severe head injuries several days earlier, in an incident near his home in Bramham Road, Chapelfields.

Yesterday's packed service started and finished with songs by Paul Weller and The Jam.

The vicar, the Rev David Casswell, paid tribute to the Williams' family dignity at a traumatic time.

He said it was a very sad day, but people were gathered to celebrate the life of Mike.

"He was the life and soul of the party," he said. "He was larger than life. He was a loveable rogue... He would light up a room."

He said Mike, born and bred in York, had got into some scrapes but, after meeting Tara in 2000, "he had settled down a bit".

"He was a Jack of all trades, but he had gained employment as a bricklayer with Graves Construction."

The vicar said that after Mike was injured, Paul Weller had sent a tape which it had been hoped would help bring him out of a coma.

Later, the singer had sent Tara some flowers, which had been a "lovely gesture".

Paul Williams said a benefit concert at Certificate 18 in Gillygate on April 22, to raise money for Tara and the children, had attracted a lot of interest since it had been reported in the Evening Press recently.

A local man, Steven John Stone, of no fixed address, has been remanded in custody accused of injuring Mr Williams with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The Evening Press attended yesterday's funeral at the invitation of the family.

Updated: 09:49 Thursday, March 23, 2006