A neighbour has described seeing former Villa star Dalian Atkinson being Tasered and kicked by police after "stumbling towards" officers.

Paula Quinn, who lives in a first-floor flat near his father's house in Trench, said at one point "all I could hear were the boots hitting him".

She said one of the officers continued to kick him, while the Taser was discharged "another four or five times".

The BBC has not yet found any corroborating witnesses.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission said it was carrying out "a full and thorough investigation into all of the circumstances surrounding his death including the use of force".

West Mercia Police said officers were called to the property on Meadow Close at about 01:30. The 48-year-old died soon after arriving at the Princess Royal Hospital.

The force said it would not be commenting further while the IPCC investigation was ongoing.

Walsall left-back Rico Henry expects a spell on the sidelines after suffering a dislocated shoulder.

Former football manager Ron Atkinson has paid tribute to player Dalian Atkinson who died after being shot with a Taser by police.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission says it is currently investigating four deaths which involve the discharge of a Taser, although it can't say whether it was the Taser caused the death in each case.

Image source, PA

The IPCC also said that since it produced a report into the use of Tasers between 2004 and 2013 it was aware of two inquest verdicts that found police use of a Taser was a significant factor.

One of Dalian Atkinson's former teammates, Carlton Palmer, has said life had been hard for the forward, after he finished his playing career.

Palmer said: "Dalian would not have finished his career financially secure and he was scratching around doing stuff." He added this could be a "major problem" for footballers generally.

Image source, Getty Images

Mr Atkinson saw his sports consultancy business Players Come First dissolved in November. He had also been spending time in recent years working with young people in Telford.

BBC Midlands Today

The chairman of the Aston Villa supporters trust has described the death of former player Dalian Atkinson as "very very sad".

Peter Warrilow said he would be "forever in Aston Villa supporters' thoughts" for the entertainment he gave them.

Speaking in October, generally about the use of Tasers across the country, the National Police Chiefs' Council said officers "must decide on the most reasonable and necessary use of force in the circumstances".

"The level of force used must be proportionate to achieve the objective and officers are individually accountable in law for the amount of force they use on a person," they said.  

Figures are compiled by every force for Taser use - whether that's just drawing the weapon, showing a person that it's trained on them, or actually firing it.

Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker is among those reacting to reports that a man who died after being Tasered last night was the former Aston Villa footballer Dalian Atkinson.

The football manager Ron Atkinson signed Dalian Atkinson for both Sheffield Wednesday and Aston Villa and described him as a "happy man" on and off the pitch.

He said described the forward as a man who "played football with a smile on his face."

Image source, Empics

Dalian Atkinson has yet to be formally named by police as the victim.

Likewise, it is likely to be some time until the cause of death is known.

West Mercia Police said it would not be commenting while the Independent Police Complaints Commission investigation was ongoing.

Fabian Atkinson also says officers should have checked his uncle's medical history before using the Taser.

Nick Southall
Journalist, BBC Shropshire

Dalian Atkinson's nephew, Fabian Atkinson, has told reporters there needs to be a rethink of the way tasers are used.

He told reporters in Telford that he was "angry, frustrated, annoyed and overwhelmed" by the death and revealed his uncle had been undergoing dialysis treatment and had a weak heart.

Fabian Atkinson said it should be mandatory that an ambulance is sent out whenever a taser is deployed, in case a medical problem developed.

Former Aston Villa footballer Dalian Atkinson dies after being shot with a Taser by police in Shropshire.

Among the people paying tributes to Dalian Atkinson this afternoon are footballers who also played for Aston Villa.

Dalian Atkinson, who has died aged 48 after being struck by a police Taser, scoring a spectacular goal against Wimbledon during his time with Aston Villa.

BBC Midlands Today

Tina and Matthew Bothwell live in the same street as the ex-footballer Dalian Atkinson's father in Trench and have been describing what happened last night.

Nick Southall
Journalist, BBC Shropshire

A neighbour of the ex-footballer Dalian Atkinson says she saw the police Taser him in the early hours of this morning.

Paula Quinn said: "I heard noises initially a car alarm and shouting so I stuck my head out of the window to see what was going on and I saw the police officers shouting to the gentleman to stop."

She went on to say: "He appeared to be stumbling, however, and still made a couple of steps so they Tasered him and he dropped immediately to the ground.

"I am feeling a bit sick knowing that the poor lad has passed. Nobody deserves to die as a result of something like that."

The football world has been reacting to the news that a man fatally Tasered by police in Telford early this morning is believed to be former footballer, Dalian Atkinson.

Image source, BBC/Twitter

Andy Giddings
BBC Shropshire

Dalian Atkinson made his name at Aston Villa, but played for a number of other clubs, including Ipswich Town and the Turkish side Fenerbahce.

They have been reacting to reports that he was the man who died after being tasered in Telford last night.