TRIBUTES have been paid to Star Wars fan Jordan Lyons, who died days before his 25th birthday.

Jordan, who had cystic fibrosis, made headlines when he appealed to Disney to let him see the new Star Wars film, the Force Awakens, in a special screening. He was so ill his family feared he would not live to see the movie when it was released.

His health improved and family friend, Elliott Jackson, took him to the cast and crew premiere.

However, Jordan’s health declined and he died on February 13 at home in Earls Colne surrounded by his friends. He would have been 25 on Tuesday.

His mum, Lynne Heaton, said: “Jordan made a massive impact on a lot of people.

“He was one of those people who always leave an impression.

“He really was a lovely person. I miss him so much. It is so hard.

"I feel like my heart has broken.

“He was fun, quick-witted and made everyone smile.

“He loved his family – they were a big part of his life.”

She added: “My heart did break a bit more when I heard they have started filming for the eighth Star Wars film.

“Star Wars is always going to remind me of Jordan. No-one can take that away.

“He will always be in my heart. I have lots of fond memories of him.

“Because he spent a lot of time in hospital, I was with him all the time.

“We were like best friends and talked about everything.

“We had the same mad sense of humour. We spent a lot of time laughing and Jordan would always take the mickey out of me.”

More than £9,600 has been donated to a webpage, set up in Jordan’s memory, to raise money for the J’s Hospice, Chelmsford, which provides respite care and support for young adults and their families.

Lynne said: “The hospice is an incredible organisation and has given us so much help over the past three years and it is still supporting us. I cannot thank it enough for everything it has done for us.

“When we were talking about funeral arrangements with Jordan and donations, we as a family decided the hospice would be the charity.”

Jordan, who attended Billericay School, leaves two sisters, Lauren, 27, and Amy, 12.

Bev Barclay, director of clinical services at the hospice, said: “During the three years I knew Jordan I was privileged to nurse a young man who lived his life as fully as he could, with all the restrictions his condition put upon him.

“Jordan was always cheerful, kind and caring and never complained.

“Jordan’s donations to the hospice are amazing and we are all so grateful to him and the family for enabling us to continue our work with other young adults who need our service.”