POP sensation Paolo Nutini will play a one-off gig in Newport this summer in aid of a heartbroken teenager who pleaded with him to perform at his mother’s funeral.

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

In a poignant plea on the Last Request singer’s Facebook page following her death, her son, Ieuan Joel, 13, wrote: “I was wondering if you could play at my mum’s funeral as she loved you.

"You were her idol. She was only 34 and she left and I’m 13. Please could you play at her funeral?”

The singer had been unable to make the funeral, as he was in Italy at the time, but phoned Ieuan to give him his condolences on the day of the service.

Now, he has announced he will play his only UK show this year at the 2,000-capacity Newport Centre on July 20 – with all proceeds going into a trust fund for the St Julians teenager.

Explaining his decision, Mr Nutini said: "When I heard of Ieuan's plea, it was with regret that I couldn't attend his mother’s funeral and do what he asked of me.

“I wanted to help him in any way that I could and I feel like a concert in aid of Ieuan himself and in memory of his dear mother was the right way to do so.

“Please come along on July 20 and join us in giving some love and support to the Jones family at this hard time”.

Ieuan, whose original Facebook post was shared and liked more than a thousand times, said: “I’m really pleased and excited that Paolo’s coming to Newport - to my home town - and he’ll be doing a show for my Mum.”

Following Ms Jones’ death, the community rallied around and raised more than £3,500 for her funeral costs – including the hiring of a horse and cart at St John’s Church in Maindee.

Her mother, Carol Davies, 55, from St Julians, says the concert will give the city another opportunity to honour her daughter.

She said: “When donations were flooding in it was unbelievable. Bevlee would have been so proud.

“The concert will be a chance for those who knew Bevlee to remember her and celebrate he life.

“What can I say about the people of Newport? All I can do is thank them from the bottom of my heart for helping my daughter and her son.”

Tickets are strictly limited to two per person and are available from 9am on Friday. Priced at £40 per ticket plus booking fee, they will be available from: http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/event/1F0050B2AC36520A.