A FORMER soldier who died after being hit by a train in Malvern has been described as "a warm-hearted and generous man" who "will be sorely missed".

Stewart Akins was killed on May 25 after he was struck by a train just south of Great Malvern station.

Ex Royal Hampshire Regiment soldier Mr Akins, from Nibley Close in Warndon, had spent time in St Paul's Hostel in the city.

The organisation's CEO, Jonathan Sutton, paid tribute to him.

Mr Sutton said: "Stewart was in and around St Paul's but also at Second Chance Furnishings, where he was a volunteer helper for a number of years.

"Of course we're very sorry that this has happened and our thoughts go out to his mum Claire and his brother in South Wales.

"Stewart was a very friendly, warm-hearted and generous man – a wonderful guy.

"He was well liked and hugely popular and will be sorely missed.

"We will be sending some people from St Paul's to the funeral.

"What we've done as well is spoken to someone from the regiment Stewart was in in the 1980s and they're going to send someone as well."

An inquest into 52-year-old Mr Akins’s death will be held on October 8.

The death is being investigated by the British Transport Police, which has jurisdiction over the railways, after it was found he had been held in police custody over the previous weekend.