Friends and family of a popular builder have been left stunned by his tragic death.

Del Jones, who was famed for his cheeky smile and care-free approach to life, died at home in Victoria Park, Herne Bay.

The 42-year-old groundworker was discovered lifeless by his housemate after failing to wake up.

Leading tributes to him was lifelong friend Spencer Davis, who worked with Del for the past 15 years.

“He didn’t have a bad bone in his body and was liked by all,” he said.

“If I needed a hand doing anything Del would be there without batting an eyelid.

“We always had such a laugh at work, playing pranks on each other and normally going straight to the pub afterwards for a few beers – sometimes more than a few.

“Going to work this week has been so hard, not seeing that cheeky smile or hearing his distinctive laugh.

“It still doesn’t seem real, we are all in shock.

“There was no sign of this coming.

“Life can be so cruel.”

The night before his death, Del had been drinking in the Rodney’s pub in North Street, where he was a familiar face.

"Going to work this week has been so hard, not seeing that cheeky smile or hearing his distinctive laugh. It still doesn’t seem real, we are all in shock" - Spencer Davis

Tragically, his older brother Matt, 46, learned the heartbreaking news through social media.

“Someone actually called my wife to ask how I was because they’d read about it on Facebook,” Matt said.

“I didn’t know anything about it.

“We’re just in shock. We’re struggling to get our heads around it.”

Del grew up the youngest of three brothers in McCarthy Avenue, Sturry.

He went to the local primary school before attending what was then the Frank Montgomery grant maintained school.

His early work life saw him take up jobs in a farm shop in Sturry and a glass factory in Faversham.

“We were inseparable growing up,” Matt said.

“We sort of lost touch when I got married, but it’s times like this when I wish we’d spent more time together.

“You could always trust him to have a smile on his face. He could really laugh at himself and loved a joke and a prank.

“Del was Del.

“He didn’t take himself seriously and he didn’t take life seriously. He was never, ever miserable.

“He was such a lovely lad.”

Police were called to Del’s home in Victoria Park by ambulance crews at about 1.30pm last Sunday.

His death is not being treated as suspicious and a report is being prepared for the coroner.

Funeral arrangements have yet to be made.