THE devastated family of Peter Jones have spoken of their heartache at the death of their beloved "Little Peter".

Peter’s aunt Linda Buxton says they are struggling to come to terms with the 24-year-old’s death.

“We are all in shock about it. We just can’t seem to get our heads around what has happened,” Linda told the Leader.

“I feel as if I’m going to wake up out of this dream. He was only round at my house last week helping with some painting and decking. He was such a good lad all round.”

Little Peter, as he was affectionately known by his family, had been on a night out in Chester with his father, also called Peter Jones, and another friend.

After returning to Buckley, where his father lives, the trio went to get a kebab at about 1am.

A former pupil of Alun School in Mold, “car mad” Little Peter recently got a new girlfriend.

Linda added: “His girlfriend had gone away for the weekend so he decided to go out with his dad to Chester. He had gone earlier in the day to Chester to get some new clothes and he was asking us if he looked smart for his night out.”

Linda said: “He was madly in love and she has a little baby he doted on. He really loved that baby. He was just getting on with his life.”

Peter, who lived in Mold, had undergone a liver transplant when he was two years old.

Linda said: “He really fought for the liver transplant. If you had seen him before he was like the green giant, he was that green.

“We always knew his liver wouldn't last a lifetime and if that had given up then we would have been able to come to terms with it, but to be snatched from us like this.

It just doesn’t make sense.

“He has been robbed of 50 years of his life and for what – nothing.”

Mr Jones Snr suffered a fractured eye socket and is now recovering at home.

Shocked friends have also set up a tribute group on social networking site Facebook called “In Memory of Peter Jones RIP” which now has more than 1,000 members.

Friends and family have paid heartfelt tributes to him on the site describing him as “one of the loveliest people you could ever meet”.

One friend, Heather Williams, said: “So, so sad, far too young to go. You and your smile are going to be missed by so many people.”

Another friend, Carolyn Coulton, added: “You were a lovely person and I’m damn proud to have known you. Sleep tight love.”

Group member Corrinne Reynolds said: “Shocking thing to happen to any young lad and when it's on your own doorstep it makes it so much more horrendous. My thoughts go out to his family."