Tributes are paid to Pink Panther graffiti artist found dead in stream

A body found in Horton Lane, Telford, has been formally identified as 42-year-old Patrick Mahon, from Wellington.

Mr Mahon was well-known across the town for putting up huge smiley faces on roundabouts.

His most recent artwork came in 2010 when he put a massive smiley pink face tent at the junction of the A5 and B5060 in Priorslee.

Mr Mahon also struck in 2008 when he stuck a decorated pyramid on top of a busy traffic island as an April Fools' Day stunt.

On January 1, 2000, he was at it again when he planted a 4ft by 4ft pyramid on Apley Roundabout. And he claimed responsibility for a 6ft by 4ft pyramid at Haybridge Roundabout.

Mr Mahon first gained notoriety in the late 1990s by painting bright pink faces at Trench Lock and became known as the Pink Panther.

His work was criticised by some and was often quickly removed by Telford & Wrekin Council – but others said that it had raised a smile.

Mr Mahon's brother, Stewart, posted photos of some of the Pink Panther's stunts on Facebook with the message: "You will be missed for making the people of Telford smile as they drove around them horrible roundabouts. Love you Pat x."

Rebecca Short, a friend of Mr Mahon for about 10 years, said he just wanted to amuse people.

She said: "He loved the colour pink, that's why everything he did on the roundabouts was always pink. He was into music and he liked reading."

Miss Short said Mr Mahon had lived in Talbot Road in Wrockwardine Wood until his nan died. She said he had recently been living in a tent in the graveyard in Trench and had suffered from mental health problems.

West Mercia Police has said Mr Mahon's death is not being treated as suspicious but they want to talk to anyone who knows Mr Mahon and may have seen him in the 24 hours prior to his death.

Anyone who may have information is asked to call 101, quoting incident number 207S 241213.