TRIBUTES have been paid to a Leigh man who was found dead at the weekend.

Jeffrey Bridge, 51, of Richmond Drive in Higher Folds, Leigh, was reported missing on December 29.

It is believed that he was last seen at the Wigan Wellbeing and Resilience Centre in Charles Street, Leigh, and was known to often use the canal towpath to travel between Wigan and Leigh.

Police were called to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal by The Dover Lock Inn, off Warrington Road, Abram, Wigan, at around 11am on Sunday after reports of a body being found in the water.

The body was later identified and confirmed as Jeffrey.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said there were ‘no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death’.

Following his death friends and family took to Facebook to pay tribute to Jeffrey.

Jeffrey’s niece Emma Parr posted: “Rest in peace uncle Jeff. Always be in our hearts forever and will be missed more as each day passes by.”

His friend Debra Hugill wrote: “RIP my friend. Loved and missed always.”

Speaking to the Journal Debra said: “Myself and Geoff met one another when we were 15 years old.

“He was a pleasure to be around and I have never stopped loving him. Even though we both had separate lives, we always made time for each other.

“He was a true friend and a gentleman.

“Life will never be the same without him.”

Dawn Knowles, whose 70-year-old mother lived above Jeffrey in his flat in Higher Folds, said he was a ‘gentle giant’.

Dawn added: “He was a very gentle, polite man who wouldn’t harm a fly.

“He didn’t cause any bother at all and he thought the world of my mum. He was always checking on her and would do anything for anyone.

“He really was a soft gentle giant.

“His death has shocked a lot of people locally.”

A file has been sent to Bolton Coroner’s Court but an inquest date has not yet been set.