Tributes have been paid to a popular Sidmouth man who died after collapsing in a Torquay nightclub.

Mark Rodye, 47, who was known to his friends as Rocket, was taken from the Bohemia nightclub to Torbay Hospital, but staff were unable to save him.

More than 100 people have taken to the Facebook page of the Balfour Arms, where he was a regular, to remember a “local legend”, writes Stephen Sumner.

“He always had a smile on his face and it is so sad to think that we will not see that smile again,” one message said.

“Our thoughts go out to Rocket’s family at this sad time.

“Someone so special will not be forgotten. RIP dear friend.”

Responding to the post, one visitor wrote: “Such a kind soul, will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.”

Another added: “Always there with a smile. A great loss to all of us that knew him.”

Mr Rodye was also widely known in the town as one of the butchers at Hayman’s, where he had worked for 10 years.

Shop owner Stewart Hayman said: “You couldn’t find a better person to work with. He was a good colleague and a good friend. It’s a tragic loss. He will be sadly missed by a lot of people.”

Mr Rodye had previously worked as a butcher at Dewhurst, then with the Turner brothers in Woolbrook, so he was a familiar face across the town.

Mr Hayman said he had only seen Mr Rodye the evening before his death, and it came as a “terrible shock” when he learned the news.

A police spokesman said: “Police were called at 3.25am on Sunday, May 12, to Bohemia in Torwood Street, Torquay, after a man collapsed. The 47-year-old from Sidmouth was taken to hospital, where he later died.

“His post mortem has not yet been carried out. A file is being prepared for the coroner.”

Police are not treating Mr Rodye’s death as suspicious.