FRIENDS have paid tribute to a man who died after being found with serious head injuries.

Former rough sleeper Andrew Quelch, who was known as Squelchy, was allegedly attacked at his housing association bedsit in High East Street, Dorchester, sometime between Monday night and Tuesday morning.

Dorset Police launched a murder investigation after Mr Quelch died in Dorset County Hospital early on Wednesday.

Mr Quelch, 48, had spent time living on the streets and battled a drink problem as well as mental health issues.

People who knew Mr Quelch said although he fought his own demons he was a 'lovely' and 'gentle' man.

Mr Quelch had been a regular at the Soul Food soup kitchen in Weymouth earlier this year where he met local outreach worker Angie Barnes.

Miss Barnes said: "Because of the issues Squelchy had people found it hard to deal with him but the truth is he was ever such a timid man and frightened of his own shadow.

"He was a lovely, gentle and polite man. He often felt frustrated by what was going on around him but I never heard him raise his voice."

She added: "People are shell-shocked to hear of his death.

"He didn't deserve to die.

"I take all deaths of the people I know and work with as like a death in the family but to have someone go like this is just awful. I am devastated."

Miss Barnes said she worked with Mr Quelch to help him access the services he needed.

She understands he was found temporary accommodation in Dorchester recently through another agency and was planning to move to Portland.

Miss Barnes addd: "When I last saw him, which was a couple of months back, he looked very tidy and together and was dressed in smart clothes.

"It felt like things were starting to turn around for him."

A friend of Mr Quelch, who did not want to be named, said: "He was a lovely, quiet and unassuming bloke."He knew a lot of people."

Jake Tissington, 18, who lives in the block where Mr Quelch lived said he often spoke to Mr Quelch in the stairwell and outside.

He added: "He was one of the nice ones and he was always nice when you spoke to him."

Margaret Barker, a trustee of the Friends of The Hub drop-in centre for homeless people in Dorchester, was saddened by Mr Quelch's death.

She said: "It's certainly very, very sad."One of the things The Hub provides is help for many of the homeless to contact their families and learn to use computers to help them contact family and friends.

"It's always sad when somebody dies at a much younger age than you would normally expect and even more so when perhaps it may be a violent death.

"I'm sure that he had many friends who will be very sad about this."