A pianist who recorded with Sir Elton John was murdered only weeks after moving to Thailand to start a new life.

Friends say the superstar described Jimmy Hall, 57, as the best pianist he had worked with.

Mr Hall recorded with both Sir Elton and Kiki Dee in the 1960s and 1970s.

Mr Hall, from East Herrington, Sunderland, was found dead on Christmas Eve.

He had arrived in the resort of Sai Khao on the island of Ko Chang, in October, and had been building a beach bar when he was killed by robbers.

Yesterday, friends of the father-of-two said they had been left devastated after hearing the news of his death on Christmas Day.

Lynne and Ian Brown had known Mr Hall for more than 30 years and were planning to visit him in Thailand once he had got settled.

Mrs Brown, 39, who works as a chef's assistant, said: "Obviously it ruined Christmas for us. It was such a shock to find out like that. We were just watching the news and it came on.

"We couldn't believe it. Ian is devastated.

"I've known Jimmy for about nine years because he was a regular in the pub before he moved away, but my husband has known him for more than 30 years, so he is really shocked.

"He loved his music and had worked with Elton John and Kiki Dee in the 60s and 70s. Elton John said he was the best pianist he has worked with.

"Jimmy was well liked in the community and the one thing that people keep saying is that he wouldn't hurt a fly. He really was a gentle giant.

"All he wanted to do was to just start a new life for himself and this has happened. It's terrible."

Thai police said Mr Hall was set upon by men who planned to steal cash, believed to be 150 euros, about £102.

Three Thai men - two aged 18 and one 20 - were arrested on Christmas Eve and are believed to have confessed to beating and robbing Mr Hall.

Lieutenant Supin Naoprakson said the three suspects had all worked for Mr Hall, helping him build a property on the island.

"They did not mean to murder him, they just tried to get money from him, but then they fought. They just used boots, and then just hit his head, something like that.

"They used to work to build the bar for that Englishman, that is why they knew about where this guy was staying, and how much money he had in the wallet."

The island of Ko Chang, Thailand's second largest after Phuket, is a tropical marine national park, located in the country's eastern Trat province, on the border with Cambodia.

Sai Khao (White Sands) Beach is the longest and busiest on the island and is lined with bars and nightclubs.