ADAM Ellison’s family have revealed how the 29-year-old was planning to propose to his sweetheart Rebecca this Christmas before his life was so cruelly snatched away.

Speaking ahead of their first Christmas without him, his parents, sisters and girlfriend say how their “lives will never be the same again".

They also thanked the community for their support after several fundraising events and vigils were paid to Tesco worker Adam, who died from a stab wound to the neck on Saturday, November 4.

His girlfriend Rebecca, 28, said: “Family was a big thing to Adam especially at Christmas, Joyce and Fred (Adam’s parents) came around to ours last year, which was our second Christmas in our house.

“It was also the first with Judy (their dog) and we started our own Christmas traditions that we hoped we would been able to carry on in the future.

“We bought Judy a Christmas dog decoration to put on the tree every year and we spoke about in Christmas’s to come, when we didn’t have Judy anymore, that we would put it up and remember her.

“The three of us even bought matching pyjamas to wear on this Christmas Eve and a Christmas Eve blanket which we started last year.

“We thought we would be able to do this for years to come and it’s awful we only had that for one year before it was ripped away from us.”

His sister Nicola Moore, 46, added: “We just want people to understand this affects not just us, but Rebecca as well, they had a whole life planned together and it’s affected the community and larger family.

“One of his cousins, who was with him that night was like a brother to him, and one of the reasons they were out that night was to discuss Adam’s plans to get engaged to Rebecca over the Christmas time.”

Adam, from Prescot, had been walking along a pedestrianised area of Market Place on his way home from a night out with friends when an argument broke out with a group of people on a scrambler-style motorbike.

Police are still appealing for information to find out who caused his death.

His mum Joyce Ellison, 66, added: “It’s been devastating for us as a family and it’s left a big hole in our lives.

“The build up to Christmas, we haven’t been able to get into it, but we’ve had to show some interest for the sake of the grandchildren because it’s their time of year and it was Adam’s time too.

“I would ask for anyone who may know something to look into their hearts and think that this could happen to someone else.

“If they know this person, or the people, who were on that bike that night then please give them up, it can be anonymous, but we don’t want anyone to go through what we have.

“It has torn us apart. Our lives will never be the same again.

“This can’t ever happen again to somebody else, we don’t want anyone having to feel what we feel.”

Rebecca added: “Christmas for us will just come and go and the excitement that was always there for us will not be there this year.

“Not only is it the first Christmas without Adam but he would have been 30 in February and we had plans for his birthday.

“On top of it all it’s hanging over us that we can’t lay Adam to rest and we feel like we need justice.

“That’s all we can do for Adam now and we are asking everyone who knows anything to please come forward.

“It could be one small thing in a bigger jigsaw which could give Adam justice.”

His dad, Fred Ellison thanked the community for their support, after an outpouring of grief led to a committee being set up in Prescot to organise tributes in Adam’s memory.

“We are extremely grateful for everything the community have done for us, we get strength from that.

“It shows you how much of a gentleman Adam was and how loved he was,” said Fred, 70.

“We’d like to thank everyone such as Tesco, the clergy, police, emergency services and everyone including the community who have been so supportive both financially and emotionally.”