TRIBUTES have been paid to a former fireman whose wife has been arrested on suspicion of murdering him in Malaysia.

John Jones, aged 62, previously of Chorley Road, Droitwich, was found dead in his home on Thursday morning after his wife, Samantha, allegedly stabbed him, following a row.

The father used to work at different fire stations across Worcestershire, before moving to Somerset and eventually Malaysia.

Former firefighter Kevin Harris, an urban search and rescue technician at Droitwich Fire Station, said he was shocked when he heard about Mr Jones' death.

He added: "He was a good firefighter and a good chap. A good lad to work with.

"He was a sporty chap. He was into his gym work, motorbikes, running and he did lots of rugby. I think he played for the Hereford and Worcester Fire Authority's rugby team.

"I was working alongside him for three to four years. We did a sponsored rowing event in the early 80s. We built a raft and rowed down from Bridgnorth to Stourport over about four days.

"We built it out of barrels, one of the guys was handy with wood and he built a fire engine on top of the barrels. It was all covered by the BBC.

"We talked about him just last week at the funeral for [former firefighter] Alan Davies.

"Only six days ago I asked about him and now he's been found on his kitchen floor."

Mr Harris added that his former colleague was passionate about the service - and enjoyed fire station open days.

He said Mr Jones, reportedly born in Kidderminster, moved to Bromsgrove in the early 1980s and lived in Windsor Street with his first wife, before moving to another fire station in Bridgwater, Somerset.