THE body of an 88-year-old Llangrove man has been recovered from his garden pond.

Ronald Boyd Lewis, known as Ron, was believed to have been concerned about his fish in the icy weather on February 4, and had gone out to put a rubber ball in the water to stop it from freezing over.

Priest-in-charge of Llangrove, the Rev. Tony Kelk, who was Mr Lewis' next door neighbour for six months said: "He was very, very well liked and loved by everybody in the village."

Mr Lewis' nephew, Grenville Phillips from Ross-on Wye said that Mr Lewis enjoyed his life and was simply trying to make sure his goldfish were okay when it is believed he slipped and fell.

There are believed to be no suspicious circumstances and an inquest has been opened and adjourned.