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Homeless Alan Palmer brought passers-by to tears with his piano playing in Newcastle Central Station.

Draped in his sleeping bag, the 26-year-old would play songs including Beethoven’s Fur Elise and Moonlight Sonata, describing it as a break from the ‘hassle’ he received on the streets.

But drug addict Alan, originally from the West End, couldn’t beat his demons and was found dead in a Newcastle street, surrounded by used needles.

Now devastated mum Catherine has paid tribute to her son who shocked hundreds of visitors to the city.

She said: “It hasn’t hit me yet, I still haven’t cried. The police knocked on my door and told me they’d found my Alan.

“He was just a lovely lad, a really good artist. He was really creative and his dad taught him to play the keyboard, the guitar and the drums.

“I am really proud of the fact that he moved people to tears. I used to sit and listen to him play and it brings me a lot of comfort to know he brought such joy to people.”

Alan was found dead on October 10.

Catherine, 51, and Alan’s dad, also Alan, faced every parents’ worst nightmare as she came face to face with her child’s lifeless body in a chapel of rest.

As he lay in front of her, she had to say goodbye for the final time.

“It didn’t feel real, it was so strange,” she said. “I told him I loved him and I am so sorry it happened. I just wish I could spend more time with him.

“I last saw him two weeks before he died, I took him for a hot chocolate. I had my arm around him and told him I loved him.

“At least I have a nice final memory of him.”

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The former Christ Church School pupil was lured into the dark world of hard drugs after his relationship with the mum of his two kids broke down.

Alan found it difficult to cope and turned to heroin - a decision that would lead ultimately to his death slumped against a Benwell lamppost surrounded by used needles.

As he battled his demons, loving Catherine had to keep Alan out of her home for the sake of her other children, Ben, 25, and Katie, 18.

She had hoped he would beat the drugs and she’d have her son back - but like so many others in Alan’s position, there was a tragic ending.

Catherine said: “When he was on Youtube playing his music, in a hostel and seeking support in fighting his demons, I thought it was going in the right direction.

“But sadly there was no happy ending. I want something positive to come from this and I want to help other people who have fallen into the same trap as Alan.

“When you see people who are living on the streets, you never know what they have been through.”

Catherine is asking people to make a donation to homeless charity Changing Lives.