FRIENDS from The Pack Horse pub in Station Street, Longport, where Mr Colclough was a regular, paid tribute to him today.

John Langton, a fellow regular, said: "Arthur was always very smart, a dapper chap and very gentlemanly.

"I believe he served in the RAF but he never spoke about it. We would pass the time of day, but he hasn't been in for the past 18 months. Before that we noticed he was fading. His hygiene went downhill."

Regulars at the pub agreed more should have been done to help both Mr Colclough and Terence Whatmore, who died in similar circumstances and also drank at the same pub.

Another friend, Johnny Price, said: "Arthur wouldn't accept help from anyone, he was very proud.

"But social services should intervene more if people need protection from themselves."