Nearly £7,000 has been raised in a matter of hours after the death of a 26-year-old Albion fan.

Tributes poured in for Alex Maynard as friends and family pledged money to give a 26-year-old "a good send off".

The Just Giving page set up on Wednesday by Colin Drewitt-Barlow hit its target of £1,500 in less than an hour, but the money kept flooding in and had has reached £6,700.

Alex’s friend Sam Tucknott told The Argus: “Yesterday was the toughest day of my life. It still hasn’t, and I don’t think it ever will, sink in that I’ve had one of my best friends taken away from me. Words can’t describe how I feel.

“I’ve lost someone I truly loved. I could go on forever with endless stories and endless times where my boy had me in bits with laughter.

“The most important thing for us now, as mates, is to come together and make sure our boy gets the send off he deserves.”

In a tribute Pat Hallahan, 27, said: “Alex mate, you were such a massive part of my life. I keep waiting to hear your pony whistle outside my flat, you turning up unannounced.

“But don’t worry, I’m not going to keep crying, I’m going to be a geezer for you. Love you always brother. Pat the watch.”

Best friend Aaron Hasan, 26, said everyone who knew him would miss him and said he would always be remembered.

On the Just Giving page, Mr Drewitt-Barlow said every donation would be given to the family.

He wrote: “He’s someone I personally will never forget. And am honoured I had the privilege to be one of his best mates.”

Alex, who has served a prison sentence, was found dead on Tuesday and police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

Declan Matthews, who pledged money on the Just Giving page yesterday, wrote: “Such sad news, I’m absolutely gutted.

“You were definitely missed yesterday at the football, was a weird one with you not being there.

“You definitely loved an away day. See you in another life, mate.”