FRIENDS and family of a Caldicot man are to pay tribute to his life and work.

Derek Upton, 64, a retired steelworker, went missing with a rifle on Sunday, September 25. His car was found a day later at The Moors, Rogiet and the gun was discovered by the River Severn two weeks later. His body was recovered on November 6 near the sea wall at Rogiet. Police are not treating the death as suspicious.

Mr Upton was a well-known local figure whose passions included archaeology, photography and ecology.

At 12pm on Tuesday, November 29, there will be a short service at Gwent Crematorium.

This will be followed by a gathering in celebration of his life at 1pm in the Severn View club in Caldicot organised by Derek's father, brothers and sisters.

One of his sisters, Susan Davies, of Church Road, Caldicot, said: "We want to celebrate his life and pay tribute to him. He was a real Caldicot man who lived here all his life and was very well-liked and respected here."

Any friends or colleagues of Mr Upton are invited to come and share their memories of him.

Among the guests will be Bob Trett, former curator of Newport Museum and close friend of Mr Upton and members of the Gwent Wildlife Trust.