STAFF at the Worcester hotel where stag night reveller Tom Wilkes had been due to stay were today struggling to come to terms with his death.

Tom was discovered in a city fruit market 48 hours after he went missing during a stag night at Tramps nightclub in Angel Place.

Music lover Tom, of Dudley Road, Sedgley, near Dudley, was celebrating his cousin's forthcoming wedding with friends and family when he disappeared, on Sunday, June 23.

He was found over 48 hours later on the second floor of Cromwell Street fruit market, and is believed to have fallen around 15 feet though a skylight.

He landed on a concrete floor and suffered serious head injuries.

"They were a really well behaved group," said Paul Dean, general assistant at the city's Maximillian Hotel, in Cromwell Street, Shrub Hill.

"This is the last thing we would expect to happen and everyone here extends their sympathies to his family and friends. I feel sorry for the whole family because it's a tragic accident."

City lorry driver John House, who discovered the 21-year-old at the market, said he initially thought he was dead.

"I could see someone there but I thought it was a tramp, so I went closer and saw blood coming out of his head," he said.

Tom was rushed to Worcestershire Royal Hospital before being transferred to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, where he died at 7.30pm last night.

Dudley councillor Margaret Aston, who is a neighbour of Mr Wilkes' family, said people could not wish to meet a nicer young man.

"He was a lovely, sensible lad," she said. "You couldn't say anything bad about him. He would never pass you by - he would always stop and speak to you."

She said Mr Wilkes was fond of music and used to play the drums.

"I feel so sorry for his parents and family," said Mrs Aston.

The environmental health department of Worcester City Council is investigating the accident.