STUNNED friends have paid tribute to a "great" man who was killed in an accident as he tried to save his dog from a railway line.

Dave Boycott died on Sunday as he tried to rescue his pet German Shepherd, Shanty, from the path of a train in Malvern.

The 73-year-old, who lived in Matthias Close, Malvern Link, with his wife Pat, was killed when he was struck by the engine. His dog survived.

Members of the Town Club in Malvern's Worcester Road heard the tragic news after Mr Boycott failed to open the club on Sunday evening.

"Dave had been a steward at the club for about three years," said president John Cartwright.

"It was his job to open the doors most nights. If he couldn't make it he'd normally call either myself or the treasurer.

"We came down on Sunday and he wasn't here. It wasn't like him to not call, so we went around to see if he was all right. The neighbours told us what happened.

"It was quite a shock.

"Pat is terribly distressed by it all."

Mr Cartwright said Mr Boycott would be missed by all members of the club.

"I'm sure he'll be missed. I've known him for 30 to 40 years. He was a great man," he added.

"He was always good to everyone at the club. He came to work smart and tidy and did a great job."

Mr Boycott was previously the landlord of the Prince of Wales pub in Malvern's Newtown Road. He had run it for around 30 years.

"Working here was his way of doing something after retiring from the pub," said Mr Cartwright.

"It's only a few hours a night but he enjoyed it. He loved working here."

An inquest was opened and adjourned yesterday by Worcestershire coroner Victor Round.