A 42-YEAR-OLD man who had a paper round for nearly 30 years was found dead at his home in Corsham on Monday.

After returning from the shops at 9.30am, Debbie Burse found her husband, Chris, slumped on the floor at their home in Lypiatt Mead.

Mr Burse was a well-known face around the town and worked for a number of newsagents in the area.

His mother-in-law, Hazel Burns, said her daughter was finding it hard to come to terms with her husband's death.

"She came back from the shops and found him dead on the floor," she added.

"She phoned me at about 9.45 to tell me what had happened. He loved his computer and was on an Internet chat line when he died, so at least he died happily."

Mr Burse's death has sent shockwaves around the local community. For the last two years, he had been working as a paperboy for Barnett Brothers newsagents in Corsham.

Jasmine Singh, who works in the shop, said: "Everybody knew him because he was a bit of a character. He had been a paperboy since he was 14-years-old and would normally do the work of three paperboys, sometimes seven days a week.

"I was shocked when I heard the news, I couldn't believe it because he was so young. I have contacted the National Federation of Newsagents to see how we can mark his life because I think he deserves something for doing all those paper rounds."

Several years ago, Richard Tovell, of Prospect Post Office, also employed Mr Burse.

He said: "He was always a good worker but a bit of a complex character."

Mr Burse was born in Surrey on November 2, 1960. He was heavily involved in charity work in the local area and was the vice-chairman of the Devizes-based Wiltshire and Swindon Users Network, supporting disabled people.

The 42-year-old had been ill for the last 12 years and was often seen with a walking stick.

In 1990, he met Debbie at Chippenham bus station and they were married a year later.

Mr Burse's funeral will be held next Wednesday at St Bartholomew's Church, Corsham.