The family of a man found hanged on Christmas Eve have spoken of their grief.

Alan Wallis, 34, lived in Sturry where he was brought up.

His body was discovered at 8am on December 24, hanging from a tree next to the public toilets by the village railway crossing.

Police are not treating the death as suspicious.

Mr Wallis’ eldest brother Graham, 36, said: “Alan was just the loveliest, happiest bloke, with so many friends, never an enemy. No one can understand what’s happened.”

A carpenter and electrician, Mr Wallis lived in Hoades Wood Road. A keen Liverpool FC fan, he had been in The Swan pub in the village High Street the night before he died.

Landlord Dave Edwards said: “Everyone loved him. No one can believe what’s happened.”

•For full story see this week’s Kentish Gazette, out on Wednesday