THE Newport Centre was packed last night as pop star Paolo Nutini played a one-off gig in aid of a heartbroken teenager who lost his mum.

Paolo Nutini said he had "much love" for 13-year-old Ieuan Joel who first got in touch via the singer's Facebook page asking if he could play at his mum's funeral.

Bevlee Jones, “who loved everything” about the Scottish performer, died suddenly aged just 34 on March 8 after going to bed the previous night.

Although Paolo Nutini was unable to make Bevlee's funeral, he announced a special concert in her memory – with all proceeds going into a trust fund for Ieuan, from St Julians.

Wednesday's concert was the singer’s only UK show this year and saw the 2,000 capacity Newport Centre packed with fans after tickets sold out in just 10 minutes.

Before the final song was played Paolo Nutini brought lad Ieuan on to the stage and said he had "much love" for him.

He told the audience: "Big big love to everybody here.

"This has been a good day, I have very much enjoyed myself this evening."

He added: "I think this is what it's all about, being nice to people.

"You don't even have to know the person. If you can help the person, be nice."

Fans arrived in Newport from all over the UK as well as Alfredo Nutini, fish and chip shop owner and Paolo's dad.

Alfredo said: "I'm very proud. It's one of the first fundraising things like this he has done.

"Since the boy had put it forward he wanted to do something for him.

"This is what he thought was the right thing."

Fans in the crowd included Alison Naulls, 52, from Norwich, who attended along with around 60 others from the Paolo Everyday Mad Nutters’ Facebook group after they were moved by Ieuan's story.

Mrs Naulls, who had never been to Newport previously, met fellow fans at the Queen’s Hotel in the city before heading down to the Newport Centre at 4.45pm.

She said it was important to remember why the concert was organised in the first place.

"How is he going to plan this one?” she pondered. “It’s going to be a different one for obvious reasons. I don’t know what to expect.

“I think the evening will go by and something will be said but then by the same token, if she [Ms Jones] was around, she would want to see him how she remembered him.”