A MEMORIAL service is to be held for a popular man who died after suffering a stab wound at his flat in Urmston.

Philip Owen, aged 42, was found in the flat on Gloucester Road on October 30.

Now Philip's friends have organised a service to pay tribute and say goodbye to a 'caring, kind and sociable man'.

Philip - known as Taffy - had lived in Urmston, in a flat owned by his landlady, Diane Georgiou, for six years.

Now Diane and two of Philip's friends, Simon Cooper and Jim Foster, have organised a service in Urmston to pay tribute and say goodbye to a 'caring, kind and sociable man'.

Simon, aged 55 - who lived next door to Philip - explained how the idea for the service came about soon after his friend's death: "A week after it happened I went over to St Clement's Church. It was a good service and after it the vicar, Karen Marshall, came over to me and suggested a memorial."

He added: "I want something special. a lot of people cared for and thought a lot of Phil."

He said of his friend: "He was a kind, sociable and hard working man. He was a good lad.

"I found him a very caring, kind and sensitive guy who thought about other people.

"He had a heart and he was a good laugh."

Originally from Caernarfon, Phil was a proud Welshman and noisily cheered on their matches as they progressed to the semi-final in the European football championships last year.

He also supported Aston Villa and liked Formula One racing.

He was a skilled chef but in recent years worked in the construction industry.

Simon said he had lost none of his culinary skill, though - and believed he had previously catered for VIPs.

"His food was top flight, it was very , very good.

"I am sure he said he had cooked for former Prime Minister John Major at a do."

He was a music lover, with his favourite bands including Coldplay, Keane and Stone Roses.

The memorial service will be held at 2pm on Sunday, February 19 at St Clement's Church, Manor Avenue, Urmston. all welcome.

' A MAN has been charged in connection with the death of a man in Urmston.

Ashley Bosson, aged 25, of no fixed address, has been charged with murder and is due to appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on February 23 via video link.