Residents living in the cul-de sac where Tommy Boles died said they were "not surprised" the crime had happened in their community.

Mr Boles, 30, died last night just yards from his home after an incident on the greensward used as a children's play area and meeting place in the middle of Gurney Benham Close, Shrub End, Colchester.

Residents today told how they had heard screaming coming from the area, around the corner from Alderman Blaxill School, and one woman Stella Downie arrived at the scene to find two men curled up on the ground.

She said Mr Boles was lying on the road outside his ground floor flat, one of the first properties in the row of terraced two-storey council houses which line the square.

Mrs Downie, of nearby Willett Road, said: "I heard screaming and thought there had been a fight so drove round.

"There were quite a few people around, a police car and an ambulance. All the children saw it. Tommy was lifeless."

A woman who lives in the flat above Mr Boles said: "I spoke to Tommy yesterday. He had lived above me for about three years.

"He was very polite. I am sad it was him. He was a nice chap. His grandma had just died and he was very upset by it.

"It is so sad to think somebody has died. This used to be a lovely little close but it's not the same now."

Many people who spoke today said they had been worried for some months about comings and goings and they feared drugs deals were being done in the street.

They said they had warned the police and councillors and at one point residents thought about organising a petition to get Colchester Council to take action.

Neighbour Brian Plumstead, 60, said: "We have been saying for a long time that something like this would happen one day.

"It is a nice place to live normally. I've been here 30 years. But I'm not shocked by what has happened."

Neighbour Mike Marsh added: "It's disgusting. But I am not surprised at all. The annoying thing is we had told the police and the council we were worried about what was going on around here. It should never have happened."

Neighbour Joan McCormick, 77, said: "I've lived here 47 years. It has made me feel quite frightened."

Mr Boles was described as a "nice chap" by people living near him and one recalled how he had rushed to help a neighbour who had collapsed form a heart attack two years ago.

Mr Boles shared his flat with his girlfriend Shirley Benjamin and her son. He had two brothers, one of whom was handicapped. His mother lives in the Colchester area. Killing memory rekindled

The death of Tommy Boles has brought back memories of a killing in the same street.

Neighbours can still remember the death of George Tyler, who was stabbed by his daughter in the family home in Gurney Benham Close, Colchester, in September 1984.

Karen Tyler was 18 when she killed her violent, drunken father after a row.

She was sentenced to four years in prison for manslaughter but was released after eight months following a public outcry.

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