TRIBUTES have been paid to a pair of elderly brothers who have been found dead at their Malvern home.

Harold and Charlie Sawbridge were found yesterday afternoon at the terraced house they shared in Pound Bank Road.

Neighbour Diana Bonomini said her husband, Terence, had come across Harold's body yesterday afternoon after letting himself into the house.

"We were getting concerned because we hadn't seen Harold for some time," she said.

"My husband found him in the bathroom. We then called the police, who discovered Charlie."

She described Harold, who was in his 80s, as a marvellous person who had devoted years of his life to caring for his brother, who suffered from physical and mental illness.

The Rev Peter Furber, vicar of Christ Church, Avenue Road, Malvern, said Harold was a "devout" Christian who served as a sacristan for many years.

Yesterday, he tried to track down the brothers at their terraced house because worried churchgoers had not seen Harold at the 8am Sunday Eucharist for some weeks.

"He was a very faithful man. He was devoted and loyal," said Mr Furber, who last saw him three weeks ago.

"I'd been round there yesterday afternoon trying to find out what had happened to him. I discussed it with a neighbour, but we felt that because the milkman wasn't leaving milk, he might have gone on holiday and Charlie had gone into respite care.

"It's been a terrible shock for me, and for the congregation."

Harold was in better health than Charlie, who was also in his 80s, and could be seen cycling around Malvern.

Mr Furber said ex-care worker Harold had been a very private man who had devoted his retirement to looking after his brother.

"He wouldn't have wanted anyone intruding in his life - you only knew what he was prepared to tell you," he added. "They lived on their own. There was another brother, but he died 16 years ago."

He said the stunned congregation were slowly coming to terms with the tragedy.