MORE than £5,000 has been raised to help pay for the funeral of an avid Brazil football fan.

Steve Smith, 48, from Eastwood, was well known for his love of the Brazilian football team and their strip, earning him the nickname “Brazil”.

Dozens of people have rallied round his devastated family and have raised more than £4,600 on an online fundraising page to help give the carer the send-off he deserves after he died suddenly last Tuesday.

His sister Cheryl Gillings, 44, from Bury Lane in Eastwood, said: “The fundraising page is absolutely amazing. Steve was such a lovely guy, a real character. He was so caring and he really loved his nephews. If we ever needed him he was there.”

Mr Smith was a regular patron at the Oakwood pub, the Brookside Tavern, and the Bellhouse pub, all in Rayleigh Road, and collections set up at the pubs have already raised more than £800.

Louise Clark, 43, of Bramble Road, in Eastwood, helped set up the fundraiser with their friend Ellise Collins. She said: “The amount raised so far goes to show how loved he was.

“Everyone is really in shock at the moment but we just want to help him get a good send-off.”

Miss Collins, 20, of Boundary Road, Eastwood, added: “We are really proud and so grateful for everyone’s help. We are really going to miss him.”

Her father, Paul Collins, who had known Mr Smith for about 20 years, added: “He was such a lovable and colourful character; an all round lovely man.”

A fundraising football match will be held on February 5 at the Chase Sports Centre in Prittlewell Chase. Donate at gofundme.com/-brasils-funeral-fund-