THE family of a “gentle” grandfather who was beaten and left for dead on a Chingford street have spoken of their devastation.

Father-of-three Clifford Champion died three days after being discovered lying in a pool of blood in Westward Road at around 3.30am on Tuesday, February 24.

In a statement Mr Champion's family said: "It is absolutely shocking that such a brutal act can happen in an area he loved so much without any apparent motivation or justification.

"As a family, we are devastated to think the our dad, husband and grandfather died in such a cruel way. He was a kind, loving, and gentle man and generous to the end. This has broken our hearts.

"We lost our dad and our children's granddad. He liked nothing better than to try and delight people, whether it was with gifts, jokes or just himself.

"The world has lost a warm, kind and caring character who with simple gestures would bring a ray of sunshine into people's lives and hearts.

"This is a terrible ordeal for his family and all those who know and care for Cliff, and we ask for people to respect our privacy and allow us to grieve but urge anyone with information to come forward and speak to the police."

Mr Champion, 64, of Churchill Terrace, Chingford, suffered a heart attack while being treated by paramedics at the scene. A post mortem gave the cause of death as head injuries.

A 24-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman were arrested in connection with the inquiry two days after the attack.

The woman was eliminated from the inquiry and the man has been released on police bail until March 31.

Det Chief Insp Mick Broster, who is leading the murder investigation, said: "We have yet to establish any motive for this attack and we would ask anyone who may have been in the area at the time and has any information to please come forward."

Anyone with information should call Waltham Forest CID on 020 8345 2376 or if you wish to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.