HEARTFELT tributes were made to a 'loveable rascal who lit up a room' as those who knew him best laughed, cried and said goodbye.

Ben Kreisler's sister and friends painted a vivid picture of the man they knew and loved at his funeral service at Hope Church in Worcester on Thursday. 

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Together they shone a light on his bookish curiosity, natural warmth and kindness but also the rebellious, mischievous streak which made him stand out from the crowd.

Appearing over videolink from New Zealand, his sister Claire Brown offered a striking portrait of 36-year-old Ben who died suddenly in his room at St Paul's Hostel after a long battle with addiction.

Childhood photos of Ben cuddling two dogs showed his caring side and love of animals, a feature many of his friends had commented on.

Snaps of him by the seaside, at a swimming pool and at school were a poignant reminder of a more innocent time before the troubles took hold.

Father Brian McGinley of St George's Catholic Church described how he found Ben in his church with his head in his hands.

Asking Ben if he was okay, the parish priest actually came to realise that he was just using one of the church's plug sockets to charge his phone.

Ben's sister described how she has a scar on her nose from an accident with a dog lead involving her brother.

"This is a daily reminder Ben was never someone you could back into a corner," said Mrs Brown.

She added: "I know if Ben was sitting here today he would say, 'please friends, don't make the same mistakes I did'. He knew all too well the power of addiction.

Family friend Dave Newman wrote a tribute to him.

It read: "Ben was a happy, cheerful, mischievous young guy who lit up a room with his personality.

"Since Ben's passing we have been made aware of how fond the people of Worcester were of him. We're sure he knew this and it made him very happy to be part of such a caring community. On behalf of his family, and ours, can we thank you."

Jonathan Sutton, chief executive of St Paul's Hostel, remembered Ben's cheeky smile when 'asking to borrow a tenner'.

Kerry Marnell, a peer support worker at the hostel, called Ben 'one of a kind'.

"He could be caring, generous, lovely. He was very smart and intelligent and always had his head in a book," she said.

Fighting back tears, she said even when he was being a 'pain' he was still 'loveable'. He could be outspoken, she said, 'especially he thought he was in the right'.

She said: "St Paul's isn't the same without you - you literally left your mark on those steps (by Asda). Rest in peace bro."