HILLS employees are shocked by the sudden death of their former colleague Gavin Valente.

Mr Valente, 45, who lived in Westerham Walk in Calne with his wife Debra, was found by paramedics in nearby Mill Street in the early hours of Sunday, August 3. A passer-by called an ambulance at 1am on seeing a man lying in the road.

South Western Ambulance Service said he was breathing but unconscious and was taken to Great Western Hospital in Swindon, where he later died.

Mr Valente, a former student of St John’s in Marlborough, was part of the kerbside recycling team for Hills Waste Solutions until a few months ago when he left to pursue other employment.

A spokesman for Hills said: “We were shocked and saddened to hear about Gavin’s death. He was a reliable worker and got on well with his colleagues.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this sad time.”

Messages of condolence have been flooding in to the family on Facebook, including to his sister Michele Valente Gardner who lives in Marlborough.

Mr Valente’s father is a retired police sergeant. Police said his death was not being treated as suspicious and a report was being prepared for the coroner.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been finalised.