Family and friends of a dad whose body was found near a town-centre supermarket battled bad weather to release lanterns and balloons in his honour.

Joe Bisgin, 30, was discovered last Friday afternoon next to a footpath along the River Len, near Sainsbury’s at Romney Place, Maidstone.

A Light Up the Sky night was held in his memory last night and despite rainy and windy weather more than 100 people gathered at Tovil Skatepark in Armstrong Road, Tovil.

The father-of-four’s partner, Natalie Watson said: “It went well even though the weather was bad. Because it was windy we bought balloons to release instead but we managed to set off a few lanterns.

“I was quite surprised by how many people were there but I got to meet some of his friends I’d never met before.”

Among the crowd were Mr Bisgin’s mum Debbie Bisgin, his son Riley from a previous relationship, Miss Watson’s daughter Grace and the couple’s children Joe and Macie.

Donations, charging £2 for lanterns and a raffle at The Royal Paper Mill on Tovil Hill raised £500 towards the funeral.

Miss Watson wished to say a special thank you to her partner’s employer Woodmans Construction, which has made a significant donation to funeral costs.

Donations can be made here.