Tributes have flooded in for a generous and hard-working pensioner who was allegedly bludgeoned to death in his rural home.

Bird breeder Roy Blackman was found dead in Heartsay Bungalow, in Headcorn Road, between Biddenden and Headcorn, on Monday, the victim of a violent burglary.

A man has since been arrested on suspicion of his murder.

The 73-year-old was well-known in the area for his tireless work at the garage he owned with his daughter, Nicola.

His close friend John Reeves-Vane, 75, said: “I can remember when he first set up Blackman Motors at his home all those years ago. He worked hard all his life. He would always try and help you and if he couldn’t there weren’t many people who could.

“He was a great old school mechanic. He really didn’t deserve this, it’s a bloody shame and it still hasn’t settled in. It was only last week I saw him.”

After setting up the garage in the village Mr Blackman moved it to Smarden where he was based for many years.

Keith Butchers, 67, first met Mr Blackman in 1980 and remembers him fondly.

He said: “I worked on cars with him at his garage in The Street, it’s houses now, he was a nice guy. I also remember him fixing tractors at Vesper Hawk Farm.

“I could not believe it. He would not have done anyone harm and was a genuine bloke. The last time I saw him he was getting very frail and his daughter was running the business but he still had his eye in.”

The father-of-three was also a familiar face at Maidstone Market where he sold his birds and was renowned as a duck and ornamental waterfowl expert.

Mr Butcher’s brother John knew him from his time at the market and described him as a reliable and clever man, adding: “It’s terrible that these sort of people are about.

"Unfortunately burglaries are quite common in the poultry world, I’ve been targeted myself.”

An inquest was due to open at Dover Magistrates’ Court today.

Officers are asking anyone who may have seen anything from 7.30pm on Sunday to Monday morning between Weeks Lane and Frittenden Road to contact them on 01303 289600.