THE memory of a fun-loving Weymouth man killed in a motorbike accident will live on through the work of a charity.

A collection made at the funeral of Gareth Charles Thomas has been donated to a support group which helps stroke victims like his father Mervyn.

The Dorset Stroke Association, which runs a dysphasia support service, has welcomed the donation of £1,130 which will be used to buy a computer.

Gareth, 29, of Swallow Court, Abbotsbury Road, died when his Kawasaki bike collided with a Toyota Land Cruiser on the B3157 near Portesham in July.

Gareth, who worked as a valuer at Direct Moves estate agents in Dorchester and is the son of Mervyn and Lin Thomas of Wyke Regis, was 'a true family man who loved life, a party and dancing,' his family said.

He attended All Saints School and worked at the Iceland store in Weymouth, and later at Southampton, before joining Direct Moves.

More than 200 people attended his funeral and gave generously when Gareth's brother-in-law Sam Kitson organised a collection as a tribute.

Mrs Thomas, 55, said: "My husband had a stroke four years ago following heart surgery.

"Following Gareth's death it was decided to have a collection for the Stroke Association which was kindly organised by Sam. About £800 was raised at the wake we had at the Spa Hotel and a further £300 later arrived in cheques.

"We're so grateful to everyone who supported the collection. The stroke group is a worthy cause because it helps Mervyn and so many others."

Mrs Thomas said everyone that met Gareth will have their own special memories of him.

She added: "His sense of humour and love of his family and friends was obvious to all that met him."

Mr Thomas, 59, attends a speech after stroke group in Dorchester which is run as part of the dysphasia support service by Sue Woodbury.

She said: "The donation is absolutely brilliant and will help others. We're thinking of using it to buy a computer which will support our work."

Also at the cheque presentation was Gareth's sister Suzanne, 30, who had a baby boy on September 10 and named him Hayden Gareth Kitson.

Hayden has just come out of Dorset County Hospital after being treated for respiratory problems and is now doing fine.