A CLOSE-knit community was in shock today at the death of an Ipswich pensioner who died after he was knocked down in the street. Keith Thurston, 71, of Swansea Road, died last night in Ipswich Hospital following an accident in Halifax Road.

A CLOSE-knit community was in shock today at the death of an Ipswich pensioner who died after he was knocked down in the street.

Keith Thurston, 71, of Swansea Road, died last night in Ipswich Hospital following an accident in Halifax Road.

Iris Scoltock, 76, of Tenby Road, paid tribute to the retired railway worker.

She said: "He was a nice man, He kept himself to himself. He was very pleasant and we would chat on the bus. He always said hello to people. He was very polite and very smart when he went out.

"Nobody had a bad word to say about him."

Mrs Scoltock described the moment she saw a Seat car hit the retired railway worker.

She said: "I was standing on my doorstep. Keith had just got off the bus when it looked like he stepped in the road. Perhaps he was dazzled by the sun as it was shining brightly. It was just an accident. The driver of the car phoned the ambulance."

Rushing to the scene Mrs Scoltock described how she held Mr Thurston's shoulder as he lay in the street.

She said: "He was more or less face down so I held his shoulder so he could breathe. Someone else was holding his head. The ambulance and police were marvellous. They arrived within minutes. It is so sad he died, he was a lovely man."

Last night Suffolk police confirmed the pensioner had died from his injuries.

Next-door-neighbours Doreen and Peter Salmon spoke of their shock and sadness.

The brother and sister aged said they had lost a good neighbour.

Miss Salmon said: "We are going to miss him. We have known him for years. Its is very sad."

Mr Salmon said Mr Thurston, who was single, was a polite and private man.

"It is a shock for us both. I saw the ambulances at the end of the road. He was not in the best of health and I thought he had been taken ill with diabetes.

"I did not realise until later it was as serious as it was. He was a dammed good neighbour, he was from a generation where people helped each other out."

Great niece Tabatha Wright, 33, of Brooks Hall Road, paid tribute to Mr Thurston.

She said: "We found out last night that he was in hospital last night but by the time we got there he had died.

"He was a lovely old boy, he enjoyed life very much."