TRIBUTES have been paid to former Winchester farmer Robin Little following his sudden death at the age of 61.

Police were called to Mr Little's home in Cumbria last Tuesday and found his body with a shotgun close by.

A post-mortem examination revealed that he died from a single gunshot wound to the head. A Cumbria police spokesman said there were no suspicious circumstances.

An inquest into his death opened on Wednesday at the coroner's office in Carlisle and was adjourned to a date to be fixed.

Mr Little was brought up in Hampshire and farmed at Hill Farm, Sutton Scotney, for many years before retiring to Newton Reigny in the Lake District.

While in Hampshire, he was a member of the Tenant Farmers' Association and represented the area at meetings across the south-east.

Fellow member George Gray said he was shocked by his death.

"Everybody liked Robin. He was great fun and a very valued member. He was a great character, the sort of character you need in this world and he was very humorous."

Mr Little was a treasurer of St Michael's and All Angels Church, in Bullington, churchwarden in Bullington parish and a trustee of the parish hall.