TRIBUTES have been paid to a man found dead at the bottom of a ravine the day he went missing.

Keith Turner, 64, of Llanelly Hill, Abergavenny, went missing from his home on Sunday. Mr Turner's wife, Judith, raised the alarm when he failed to return home, sparking a major search of the area. The Gwent police helicopter and search dogs were used.

Frank Westall, who runs the local Christian Fellowship, paid tribute to the man he described as "very friendly and genuine".

He said: "He always said hello and asked how you were. Keith was very friendly, open and honest.

"It was a pleasure to have known him and our thoughts are with his wife and family at this sad time."

Mr Turner had connections with the Abergavenny Family Church, and was a regular visitor to the Tuesday coffee bar.

The Rev Tony Reynolds said: "I suppose I knew him as an intelligent man who always had an active mind seeking for truth."

Stuart Wheatman, an elder from the church, said: "He was a lovely man, we loved him dearly.

"The news of his death was a great shock to us all. Keith was a great friend to people within the church and was very much involved in the Tuesday group discussions that we held.

"The church would like to express our deepest sympathy to his wife and children. He will be missed."

John and Helen Chadwick, of Lower Gelli-Felin, Llanelly Hill, were good friends of Mr Turner.

Mrs Chadwick said: "My husband and I got to know Keith and shared Christmas dinner with him two years ago.

"He was a genuine, caring man who was very thoughtful and our thoughts are with his family at this sad time."

Mr Turner's body was found by police at 3.52pm on Sunday at the bottom of a small ravine in Llanelly Hill. Police say they are not treating Mr Turner's death as suspicious.