A SOMERSET man has been charged with murdering his neighbour.

Richard Matthews, 44, of Edithmead Lane, Highbridge, is due to appear at Bristol Crown Court tomorrow (Wednesday).

He is accused of killing Paul Wells, 39, on Thursday, June 25.

Matthews has been remanded and taken to a secure hospital facility.

Mr Wells was found dead in a garden in the Edithmead Lane area of Highbridge on Thursday, June 25.

Post mortem tests showed he had died of stab wounds.

Following Mr Wells's death, his family issued a statement saying: "Paul was a loving son, brother, uncle, nephew, godfather, cousin and friend."

They added that he was "very family orientated, big hearted and a hard worker" who had travelled widely, living for periods in Gibraltar and Australia before settling down in Somerset.

They said: "He was respected and loved by everyone who came into his life.

"Paul had such an infectious personality whereby mostly everyone who met him saw this in him and became a life-long friend.

"Paul was taken from us suddenly all too soon and will be sorely missed by everyone."