The grieving family of a man who died in a kebab shop after a night out have today paid tribute to the "fun-loving joker".

Ben Mahoney, of St Martin's Road, in Newtown, Dartford, died of head injuries in the House On The Hill takeaway in the town on Friday night.

Eddie Ives, 29, of no fixed abode, but from the Gravesend area, has been charged with murdering the 30-year-old.

Mr Mahoney - who installed and fitted air conditioning - was described as a West Ham fan who loved going to the gym and fishing.

His family said in a statement today: "Ben was always smiling and laughing, and that's how we will remember him.

"He was a fun-loving joker who never took himself too seriously.

"He was the life and soul of every party, and he will be sadly missed as a son, brother, uncle, nephew and cousin, as well as the friend he was to so many people.

"As a family, we have been overwhelmed by the love and support we have received from those who knew Ben. We would like to thank Kent Police for their support and ask that we are now left alone to grieve."

Police and ambulance crews found Mr Mahoney unconscious when they were called to the House On The Hill, in East Hill, at 11.30pm.

Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead inside the takeaway shop at 12.28am.

A post mortem examination confirmed Mr Mahoney died of head injuries.

Floral tributes to Ben Mahoney, who died at the House on the Hill takeaway in Dartford

He had been on a night out with friends at his local pub, The Woodman, in East Hill.

Earlier, friends described him as someone you "couldn't help but love".

One of Mr Mahoney's best friends, Drav Nicholes, was with him in The Woodman on the night of his death.

"he had this huge grin like the joker and he was always having a laugh..." – drav nicholes

The 30-year-old said: "Ben was the best bloke you could ever wish to meet, a real diamond in the rough.

"His smile was what did it. He had this huge grin like the Joker and he was always having a laugh.

"I remember before he left the pub that night he shoved a load of BBQ Pringles in my mouth.

"He loved Pringles, in fact he loved most food – every time he came in to the pub he had a sandwich in his hands - and he had the biggest grin on his face, like always. He was a legend."

Police outside the House On The Hill takeaway in Dartford

Mr Nicholes, an engineer, had been friends with Mr Mahoney since they were about 13.

He added: "He'll never be able to be replaced, and I'm not looking forward to my Friday nights without him."

A builder by trade, Mr Mahoney has recently been working on a project at London Zoo.

Floral tributes left outside the Woodman pub in Dartford

For Mr Nicholes and the landlord of The Woodman pub, Wayne Martin, Ben Mahoney's death has not sunk in.

Mr Martin, 44, said: "He was the life and soul of the party and everyone who knew him couldn't help but love him. He always had a massive smile on his face.

"This was Ben's pub, his local for the past year-and-a-half, and it went from us chatting over a couple of drinks to becoming really good mates.

"Ben had a lot of friends here and the things they used to get up to were hysterical. Any form of entertainment and he was there, he had to be right in the middle of it all."

Eddie Ives, 29, of St Gregory’s Crescent, Gravesend, has been charged with murdering Mr Mahoney.

The 29-year-old was remanded in custody at Medway Magistrates' Court yesterday to appear at Maidstone Crown Court tomorrow.