A heart broken mum has paid tribute to a loving son and fantastic dad.

Lin Smithson was speaking after an inquest was held into her son James’s death on August 15 last year.

He was found at his family home in Emerald View, Warden, after taking his own life aged 27.

James grew up in Warden Bay and went to Eastchurch Primary School and Cheyne Middle School.

After doing his GCSEs at Minster College he went to college in Maidstone where he spent two years doing an IT course.

When he was 16, James was diagnosed with having scoliosis – double curvature of the spine which he had two operations for.

He worked at CVS (Commercial Vehicle Services) spraying the lorries before getting a job with Johnsons spraying the road sweepers.

Lin, who lives in Minster Drive, Minster, said her son was very good at his job, although he fell into the job.

She said: “He loved his job. Even though he was qualified to do computers, it was his choice and he said he couldn’t just sit behind a desk.

“He always used to point the lorries out to me and say mum I sprayed that one.”

Since July 2007, James had lived in London with his girlfriend Amy Wood and her daughter Charlie Rose, now seven, who he had looked after since she was little.

Then in August 2008, the couple’s son George was born.

The couple got together in November 2002 and were engaged to be married this year.

George, now 18 months, was named after Lin’s dad, James’s late grandfather.

Although Amy still lives in London with the two youngsters, they regularly come to Sheppey to visit Lin, and they will be staying with her for a few weeks at Easter.

Lin remembers fondly how she found out she was going to be a grandma.

She said: “He phoned me up and said how do you fancy baby-sitting in nine months time?

“I was thrilled to bits. George is a carbon copy of James – he’s as good as gold when they come to visit.

“James was a fantastic dad with him.

“The grandchildren are what keeps me going.”

James was also a keen guitarist, and with a little help from his step-dad, Lin’s partner Alan Tidbury, was self taught.

His mum said: “He lived and played for his guitar – he was excellent at it.

“He would walk in, give George to me, plug in his guitar and play.”

As well as Lin, Alan, Amy and the children, James also leaves his sister Lorraine, 30, and dad Raymond.

Lin added: “James was very loving – he would sit on the sofa and cuddle up. He always told people he was a mummy’s boy. That’s why it’s so hard.”