Suffolk's GenX Radio presenter Tim Gough dies on air

Tim Gough, 55, died while presenting his breakfast show on GenX Radio

A radio presenter who died while on air has been described as "a warm, caring, fun guy" who was loved dearly by those who knew him.

Tim Gough, 55, died from a suspected heart attack at his home in Lackford, Suffolk, while presenting GenX Radio's Monday breakfast show earlier.

He spent much of his life in Suffolk and began his broadcasting career at Ipswich's Radio Orwell in 1986.

GenX said it was "shocked and devastated beyond words" at his death.

The station said Mr Gough died at 07:50 BST. Music suddenly stopped before starting again several minutes later.

Tim Gough worked at Radio Orwell's sister station Saxon Radio, which was based in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, until the two fully merged

James Hazell, managing director of GenX Radio, said: "To know Tim personally, as I did very closely for over 30 years, was to know a warm, caring, fun guy who myself and my family loved dearly. We are heartbroken by the news.

"I know his family are enormously comforted by the hundreds of loving messages that have been received and have asked for privacy at this devastating time."

He added Mr Gough had come out of retirement, going back on air for the first time in a decade, to present the station's breakfast show.

'Norwich fan'

One of Mr Gough's colleagues at Radio Orwell in the mid-1980s was presenter Stephen Foster, before the latter went on to work for BBC Radio Suffolk.

Mr Foster, now at Radio Caroline, said: "I first got to know Tim when he was working behind the scenes on the Saturday afternoon sports show.

"We hit it off immediately and the banter never stopped in all our time at Radio Orwell and [Bury St Edmunds-based sister station] Saxon Radio.

"He was a Norwich City fan, so the rivalry and humour was fierce!

"He did such a great job on air on Saxon - his big personality shining through.

"I'm so sad to hear of his sudden death which has robbed Suffolk of one of its nicest guys."

Tim Gough continued to follow Norwich City's yo-yoing between the Championship and Premier League as a season ticket holder in recent seasons

Mr Gough went on to work as a presenter and programme controller in the East Midlands in the 1990s and 2000s at radio stations including Trent FM, Leicester Sound, Saga Radio and Smooth Radio.

During his time there he lived in Nottingham and Leicester.

Virgin Radio UK presenter Amy Voce said: "He was my first ever boss in radio at Leicester Sound when I was 18 and was so wonderful.

"I have the happiest of memories and we always kept in touch and if it wasn't for him I might not be in radio."

Gaynor Marshall, an executive producer at BBC radio, added: "When I was at Smooth Radio Nottingham he took me under his wing, super caring and all round lovely man. What an awful shock."

Mr Gough, who has been described by GenX as "hugely experienced and highly talented" is survived by his mother, brother, sister and son.