A NEWPORT man known for the flags and pieces of the city’s history he kept in his garden has died aged 79.

Life-long Newport County fan John Rizzo, from Pill, spent nearly 30 years collecting discarded road signs which he displayed on his garden wall, along with a flagpole flying a range of flags for fun and for people's birthdays.

Hundreds of Mr Rizzo’s friends and family attended his funeral service at St Mary’s Church in Stow Hill, Newport, on October 15.

Friends and family have paid tribute to the former builder whose garden in Preston Avenue, where he lived with wife Gwyneth for 42 years, was the talk of the city.

Newport West MP Paul Flynn said Labour Party supporter Mr Rizzo helped get him elected in 1987 by erecting giant banners across the city.

Writing on his blog, Mr Flynn said Mr Rizzo had been a “life support machine” for every election since.

“John had a full great life," he wrote. "A skilled versatile builder, Newport County's number one fan, enthusiastic worker for the Labour Party, staunch Roman Catholic, flyer of flags, collector of roads signs and above all else a great family man.

“I owe him a great personal debt of gratitude.”

Mr Rizzo started his road sign collection in 1977 when he was renovating a pub in Pill and thought the sign would look good elsewhere.

In an interview with the Argus in 2005, Mr Rizzo said: "I looked around outside at the Pill I was born in, and I thought how it was altering and what a shame it would be if the street signs were lost forever. So that was the start of my collection."

Son Michael Rizzo remembered how his father would fly flags not only on St David's Day but also for weddings, anniversaries, or anything that would bring a smile to someone's face.

President of Newport County, David Hando, knew Mr Rizzo since the 1970s and worked with him on the door of Bar Amber, the team's social club, for many years.

"Because he was a socialist and I'm a liberal we spent more time talking about politics than football," he laughed.

"John was a long-time supporter of Newport County and Newport County AFC. He and his son Michael helped restore Somerton Park when we returned from exile in 1989. He was a builder and very helpful organising that.

"At the funeral service Michael made a special reference of thanks to the supporters club who had got tickets for John and Michael and arranged transport to take him to Wembley for the trophy game, as he hadn't really been well enough to come to matches," he said. "That showed the appreciation of the supporters club for his support over the years. He is greatly missed and I hope he's still following us from his grand-stand seat up above."

Mr Rizzo died peacefully at Tregwilym Lodge Residential Home, in Rogerstone, Newport, leaving his wife Gwyneth and children Jayne, Helen, Michael and Anne.