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A homeless man has been found dead in his tent in the snow in Nottinghamshire.

The body of the man was found in the middle of Retford during freezing weather.

The man, known as Ben, had been sleeping rough near St Swithun's Church.

His body was discovered in the early hours of Tuesday morning as bitterly cold weather hit the town.

Scout leader Hazel Newstead knew him. She said: "We're so shocked and saddened by this. He seemed to be a lovely, friendly chap.

"He was living in a tent between a wall and the old church hall off Churchgate near our scout hut.

"He told us he was 53 and used to be a brickie - he even offered to re-do the brickwork on our building.

"We used to chat to Ben over the wall. He was happy here and didn't want to go to a shelter in Worksop."

(Image: PA)

Hazel said she and her husband had come across him a week or so ago, but understood that he was originally from the south and moved between Retford, Gainsborough and Worksop.

"He had a tent, sleeping bags and quilts, and we gave him tinned food because he said he had something to cook with. He used to hang his sleeping bags between the trees to air them," she added.

Kenny Roach, of West Street Galleries, said he knew Ben well and helped him out with money and food.

"He contacted me last week just before he came out of hospital - he had pneumonia," he said.

"He had had his stuff pinched so I arranged to meet up with him to give him some camping gear, money and food.

"Ben was quite comfortable where he was and didn't want to go to Worksop. He wanted nothing to do with drugs. All he needed was a break. This is so sad."

Kenny said Ben didn't want something for nothing.

He would search bins for items to sell in town and would buy food with any proceeds he received. Kenny also offered him work with an upcoming project.

"He was a grafter," he said. "But he just needed somebody to give him a break. He couldn't get a job because he didn't have a home, he couldn't get a home because he didn't have a job, and he couldn't get benefits because he didn't have a home.

"It's a vicious, vicious circle. People need to cut them some slack.

"He was not an aggravating character. I think his appearance may have concerned some people but he was not a user.

"The system set up to help people like him needs to be looked at. It stinks, and these people can't do the box-ticking and official line thing.

"They need real help - something to get them out of bed in the morning like everyone else. They are all someone's son or daughter."

(Image: PA)

Sheena Rogers said she was devastated by news of Ben's death.

"I met him on February 17 and walked by but had a change of heart and went back to him," she said.

"He was such a sweet man who was so grateful for having someone say hello and I did give him some money. I wish now that I had spent more time with him."

Police confirmed they were made aware of a sudden death near St Swithun's Church by the ambulance service on Tuesday, February 27 at 8.40am.

A file will now be put together to hand to the coroner.