A MAN who was found dead in a garden pond in Kidderminster on Boxing Day has been named.

Paul Humphries, 41, was last seen at his home in Tennyson Way shortly before 1.30am when a friend checked on him after he had been taken unwell during the evening on Christmas Day.

He was found dead in a pond at the front of a property in Chaucer Crescent, only a few minutes’ walk from his home, at 9am yesterday.

Police are treating his death as unexplained and are appealing for witnesses and information.

A post mortem is due to be held tomorrow and his relatives and the Worcestershire Coroner have been informed.

Detective Inspector Leighton Harding of North Worcestershire CID said: “Mr Humphries was found dead in tragic circumstances but his final hours are a bit of a mystery.

"He would have been known to people in that area and in order to piece together his last movements we want to hear from anyone who saw or had any contact with him in the seven-and-a-half hours between when he was last seen alive and found dead in Chaucer Crescent.

“We also want to hear from anyone who may have seen Mr Humphries walking around in the Tennyson Way and Chaucer Crescent area during those ‘missing hours’.

"He was a white male with short dark hair and a beard, and was dressed in dark clothing. “We need to understand the full sequence of events and clearly if anyone has any information at all that can help our enquiries then I would urge them to call us at North Worcestershire CID as soon as possible.”

Police can be contacted on the non-emergency number 101, quoting incident reference 104-S-261213.

Did you know Mr Humphries? Leave your tributes below.