THE devastated family of a man whose dead body was found on a Boscombe pavement have spoken of the "loveable and likeable little brother" who dreamed of becoming a drugs counsellor.

Stephen Gosnell died of a suspected drugs overdose but his sister told the Daily Echo: "He never gave up the fight to be clean of drugs.

"As a child he was a well-adjusted, highly sociable little boy but things have been harder since drugs became a problem in his life.

"He did everything he could to come off them. It has not been proved that drugs killed him yet and, in a way, I hope it was something else. I hate to think that the drugs finally got him." Stephen, 35, was found dead on the ground in Sea Road in the early hours of Monday.

Inquiries are under way into allegations that his "companions" dumped his body in the street after he died in a nearby property.

Stephen's 49-year-old sister, Jackie Ives, said: "I can't describe how that makes me feel. That was my little brother - the one I cradled when he was a baby, like a second mum."

She said Stephen has a twin brother, David, and an older brother, Gary, who both live in Eltham in east London, the area in which the family was brought up.

Jackie lives in Kent and their parents, 72-year-old Ken and Joan, 71, have recently retired to Sussex.

"They are absolutely devastated" said Jackie. "Gary and I travelled to Bournemouth to identify Stephen's body because they are in no fit state to do anything like that."

Stephen, who worked in a variety of jobs, moved to Bournemouth around 10 years ago and had many friends in the area.

"He absolutely loved it in Bournemouth," said Jackie. "Our parents used to visit him regularly and we all tried to get to see him when we could.

"The last time I saw him was about six weeks ago at a family gathering and he appeared to be really well.

"When we came to Bournemouth we were very impressed by all the flowers and messages left for Stephen. He obviously had a lot of friends and a lot of people who cared for him."

His father, Ken, added: "He was our youngest son and we loved him dearly - we will miss him terribly."

Police have confirmed that the death is not being treated as suspicious. A post mortem examination has proved inconclusive but toxicity tests are now being carried out.

Until the results are known, the family is unable to make funeral arrangements.