TRADERS and residents in Minehead are raising funds to give a “local legend” a fitting send-off.

Not much is known about ‘Vern’ – including his last name – only that he was a resident at The Mayfair Residential Home and recently passed away.

He was also known for wearing a Mexican hat and often seen laughing and dancing around the town.

Mandy Marchant, the owner of Coaster Coffee, originally started the collection by putting a tin in her shop to raise funds for a memorial bench. However, she was contacted by an environmental health officer from West Somerset Council, who told her there were no funeral arrangements in place for Vern.

If no family members come forward to arrange a funeral, under the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984, the local authority has a duty to arrange for the disposal of the body.

“I don’t know anything about Vern and his family and I don’t want to offend anybody but it is so sad when there are no arrangements for someone’s funeral,” said Mandy.

“He was such a great character and he was a regular customer in my coffee shop.

“I know there are a lot of people in Minehead who would like to pay their respects at a service.

“For a basic service it will cost around £1,400 and I don’t know if we will be able to come up with that kind of money but it’s worth a try.”

Minehead town councillor Gary Miele told the County Gazette that Vern was a “fantastic character”, who would be missed.

He said: “I would always see him wearing a sombrero and dancing up and down the town.

“It will be so sad if he has to have a pauper’s burial.”

Meanwhile people have been paying their respects on Facebook.

Andy Wheeler said: “He was a genuinely lovely guy who always had time for you and although he obviously had his problems, he was always polite and always had a smile on his face. I’ll miss seeing that happy face.”

Rebecca Dean said: “Vern was an amazing guy. He always stopped to say ‘hi’ to me and my daughter and if I ever passed him going into the Coop he’d hand my daughter 50p to get some sweets.

“I always tried to give the money back but he’d never accept it!” Sue O’Sullivan said: “He always brought a smile to my face, no matter how down I felt at the time. Vern RIP.”

For those wishing to donate, collection tins can be found in Coaster Coffee, Ladbrokes, Shoe Centre, Coop Minehead and Morrisons in Minehead.

The Mayfair Residential Home in Minehead did not wish to comment.