TRIBUTES have poured in for a promising young Taunton chef who tragically died suddenly.

A charity event in memory of Carl Abrams, 24, whose suicide shocked his many friends, has been organised at his mother's hair salon in the town.

Carl, of Cheddon Road, had worked his way up to the position of sous chef at The Castle Hotel, where he ran the kitchen at Brazz, before he ended his life.

He was born in Taunton and spent many years in Weston-super-Mare before returning to the county town to take up his job at The Castle.

His mother, Rebecca, said: "He was a lovely person, very sensitive, very well-liked, with lots of friends and a good social life.

"He was loved at work and everyone loved working with him.

"We were all devastated when we found out what had happened."

Mrs Abrams said he enjoyed a good family life with his father Steve, birth mother Nicky and sisters Jodie, his twin, Jenny, Charly and Charlotte.

"We had no idea. He was doing really well," added Mrs Abrams.

"We still can't believe it. It was so unexpected and we never thought anything like this would happen.

"There were more than 300 people at his funeral at Taunton Deane Crematorium - some of them flew in from Ireland and Spain.

"All these people who genuinely loved him would have been there for him, but it wouldn't have made a difference."

Castle Hotel director Kit Chapman said Carl's death on March 24 was "a great sadness and a great shock".

Mr Chapman added: "He was a young man of great promise and did a most wonderful job at The Castle.

"We were very proud of him. He was much loved by everybody and made enormous progress with us.

"He did fantastically well and a great career beckoned."

Mrs Abrams is holding a Calm Your Mind opening evening at Bliss & Co, in Station Road, on Monday, June 4, from 7pm, to raise money for Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) and mental health charity MIND.

The event will feature stalls and raffles, henna tattoos, make up demos and refreshments, while two Castle chefs will have their legs waxed.

"We had no idea Carl felt the way he did," said Mrs Abrams.

"We want to raise awareness that suicide is the biggest cause of death in young men aged between 15 and 40."

To donate to the fundraising appeal, go to www.justgiving.com/Rebecca-Abrams1?utm_id=26

If anyone else is in a similar place, you can contact The Samaritans in their offices in Wood Street, Taunton, on 01823-289456 or visit contact hospitalityaction.org.uk for details of its employee assistance programme.