Writhlington village is a community in shock this week with a heavy police presence investigating the death of a man, yet to be formally identified, but being named locally by friends as ‘Bill’.

It is reported that Police were called to Huish Court, Writhlington, at around 2.30 a.m. last Saturday, 16th June. A man was found at the address with serious injuries, and was pronounced dead at the scene shortly afterwards.

Police have reportedly told residents not to be alarmed at the extra presence in the village, whilst crime scene investigators carry out their work.

Flowers have been left at the scene, with one of the Radstock Town Councillors for the Writhlington ward, Nick Toogood, leading tributes to the man at the monthly Council meeting held on Monday evening this week.

Councillor Toogood said that ‘Bill’, who is also being named locally as Phillip Jones or ‘Billy Jones’, was a friend of his son’s and thought to be in his forties. He urged people to respect those grieving and said he had known the man for around fifteen years.

Councillor Toogood told The Journal: “He was a good lad – and the only person I know who still called me and my wife ‘Mr and Mrs Toogood’. He helped my son, and I respected him for that.

“He was well known in our community – some were in tears when they heard the news. We tried to look out for him and made sure he had Christmas dinner with us, too.”

A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police told The Journal on Tuesday that formal identification of the man is expected around Wednesday afternoon this week. They said: “Another man was arrested yesterday (Monday), in connection with a murder enquiry, following the death of a man in Radstock.

“Four men were previously arrested on suspicion of murder, and three have now been released under investigation while enquiries are ongoing.

“The fourth man to be arrested still remains in custody.”

Anyone with any information should call 101 and quote the reference: 5218132140.