"The thought of not seeing him again, not hearing his voice again, is heart-wrenching."

Those are the emotion-charged words of the family of Andrew 'Ted' Worton, 51, who died from serious injuries this week.

They have paid a moving tribute to the grandfather, who was found seriously injured at a house in Ramsgate on Sunday and died in hospital the next day.

His son Benjy, 26, said: "He will be sadly missed. We feel we have been robbed of him. He was a loving son, brother, father and grandfather, very family-orientated. The children doted on him and we were all his life.

"It feels as if my heart has been ripped out. He had time to live. He had been very unwell, but he had got over that. He had a strong heart.

"He was a friend to anyone. He really would give you the shirt off his back if you’d needed it. Pops would sometimes take in strays who had nowhere to go and help them.

"It would have been more acceptable to us if he had been claimed by his illness rather than the circumstances in which he died.

"The thought of not seeing him again, not hearing his voice again, is heart-wrenching."

Known as Pops to his four children and Grandpops to his grandchildren, Mr Worton from Hillbrow Road, is a former coalminer who worked down the pits at Betteshanger and Snowdown collieries, following his father Edward into the mining industry.

Born and brought up in Hersden near Canterbury, he was a student at Sturry Secondary School and was a talented boxer in his youth.

Mr Warton leaves four children - Danny, 30; Edward, 28; Katie, 27; and Benjy - and five grandchildren, and six brothers and sisters.

A divorced man, the family say he "remained on good terms with his former wife."

His children’s wish is that he is buried with his father and mother, Robina, known as Ina, in Sturry.

He had been unwell in the last year, suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema. He had been in hospital for treatment before Christmas and had overcome pneumonia.

The funeral is not expected for a number of weeks because of the process of the investigation. Everyone who knew Mr Worton will be welcome and the date will be advertised at a later date.

• A 36-year-old man has appeared in court charged with the murder of Andrew Worton from Ramsgate.

Thomas McConnell, 36, of Hugin Avenue, Broadstairs, was remanded in custody today.

He is next due to appear at a crown court hearing on April 6.