The family of a man whose mangled body was discovered at a crushing plant spoke yesterday of their grief that he died just days short of becoming a grandfather for the first time.

David Griffiths's 21-year-old daughter, Kirsty, is due to give birth any time now to a child.

And the former bouncer will also miss the birthday of his son David - named after his dad - who will turn 20 just days later.

Workers discovered the family man's remains while sifting and grading a pile of rubbish at a recycling plant on Dockside Road, Middlesbrough, last Friday. He had been crushed to death.

Added to the family's grief at the 39-year-old's sudden death is the mystery of how the unemployed construction worker died.

"We won't be able to rest until we know exactly what happened,'' said his wife, Carol. "Dave was a lovely man, friendly, always willing to chat to people and help out. His death has left us in complete shock.

"If anyone knows anything at all please, please tell the police,'' appealed the mother of four.

She said the couple who had been married 21 years had a tiff the day Mr Griffiths went out for a drinking session - and never returned.

She said: "I thought nothing of it because he would often stay out late, but he always rang. That day he rang several times to make up and he asked me to join him for a drink. I wish I had and perhaps things would have turned out different and he would be at home now.''

The last she spoke to him was just after 3am last Friday when he rang her mobile and announced he was on his way home - but never returned.

Mrs Griffiths said: "I thought he was being clever and was with his mate and then on Saturday morning the police arrived. As soon as they said they had found a body I knew it was Dave. It was just an eerie feeling that something had happened.''

She broke the news to Kirsty, David and daughters Kimberley, 18, and Kayleigh who is 15-years-old.

Local people at North Ormesby, where the family live, are stunned by Mr Griffith's death which Cleveland Police are treating as suspicious.