Despite his circumstances Christian Clelland, who died suddenly from an internal haemorrhage, attracted admiration for his intelligence and desire to avoid trouble.

Christian was a familiar figure in the town's shopping centre, where he sold copies of the Big Issue newspaper for about eight years near Waitrose and WH Smith stores.

Apart from sleeping rough, he had lived in several caravans, one of which was bought by parishioners of St John's Church, Burgess Hill.

At one time the church arranged for Christian to live in a shed in the church grounds, providing a bed for him for several months until he moved on.

Father Clay Knowles, of St John's Church, who will conduct the service, said: "When I first spoke to the family after his death they were just so full of gratitute that people had befriended him despite his unorthodox lifestyle. He found a degree of security here.

"He was a very likeable guy. When he wasn't agitated he was very affable and he was an intelligent young man.

"My first meeting with him was 8 o-clock one morning by the tower door and he was making one of his roll-ups and he just said to me 'I'm Little Scruff'. He seemed to think that I should recognise him from being around previously.

"Reaction to him could be mixed but that was always going to be the case. But Christian was different in a lot of ways. He had a real gentle side. He didn't like confrontation, he would get rather worried about it.

"There have been a couple of parishioners who have had him home for meals or to have a shower or do his laundry. They just befriended him and took him into their homes."

Company director Andy Paterson, of Ferndale Road, Burgess Hill, whose family also befriended Christian, said: "Chris's family from Cornwall and around the UK are coming to Burgess Hill for the first time – it would be a great thing if they could gain some understanding of how popular and loved he was here in our town.

"Scruff was a popular local figure, with a wonderfully diverse group of acquaintances and friends, from 'little old ladies' to teenage kids attracted to his alternative lifestyle, views and sense of humour. He has lived in garden sheds and caravans supported by the generosity of a huge number of people who tried to help a troubled young man."

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