A mother has paid tribute to her "charming, beautiful" son whose "heart was as big as a cathedral".

David Perez, 22, a former Colchester schoolboy, died on November 4 when he was in collision with a train at the Hythe.

His mother, Spanish-born Katie Richardson, from Abberton, said he had his whole life to live for.

"He was a special son and we had a very special relationship," she said.

"He was a person who gave a lot. For him, everybody else was first and he was second.

"His heart was as big as a cathedral. He was the sort of person who loved nature and animals. He didn't like big business and money grabbing.

"The world was too nasty for my little angel to live here. His soul was in a cage which he wanted to get rid of. Now the cage is gone, he is in peace."

David, who lived in Winnock Road, New Town, moved to England from Tenerife with his mother when he was 13-years-old and went to Philip Morant School, in Colchester.

From there he went to Colchester Sixth Form College and on to Warwick University where he read biology.

His sister Susana, 25, who now lives in Los Angeles and was also a former pupil of Philip Morant, paid tribute to her "little brother".

She said: "He was every mother's dream. He was charming and beautiful. He gave a lot to so many people. A lot of people have commented on his beautiful smile, with his big blue eyes. There was no better person than David."

Hundreds of people attended David's funeral on Monday at Fingringhoe Church. He was buried in Abberton cemetery, one of his favourite places. A service is to take place in Spain on Saturday.

Published Thursday November 15, 2001