The death of a man in his 40s who was discovered in a city centre car park is not being treated as suspicious.

The body of the man, who has been named locally as Rick, was found in Orange Street disabled car park in Canterbury , shortly before 9am on Saturday.

Terry Gore, manager of city-based homelessness charity Catching Lives, confirmed the man was a homeless person who used the charity's services.

Outreach worker Emma McCrudden said: "He was a nice guy. He had his difficulties, like a lot of us

"But he was a nice guy, and he's going to be missed by many people in Canterbury.

"It's a great shame."

Police say they were called to the car park behind the Beaney House of Art and Knowledge at 8.40am on Saturday to a report of "concern for a man".

Officers and paramedics attended, but the man was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

The cause of his death has not been confirmed, but police say the death is not being treated as suspicious. A report is being prepared for the coroner.

Rachel Sanders said she saw the police activity early on Saturday morning when she opened up her designer furnishing store BoConcept in Orange Street, which backs onto the car park.

“There were quite a few police cars and what looked like forensic officers in an area which had been taped off,” she said.

“I also saw that a screen had been erected so I guessed something bad had happened but nobody came to speak to us to see if we knew anything.”

Mrs Sanders says the car park is often used by groups of homeless people during the day and night.

“Most of the time they are no trouble at all but in the past we have had to get the council to pick up syringes which we have found near the back of our premises,” she said.

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