DERBY'S Asian community has been left "shocked" by the news of MP Ashok Kumar's death, according to a former city mayor.

Derby South MP Margaret Beckett also said she was stunned by the sudden death of Mr Kumar, a man she described as "always friendly".

Derby-raised Mr Kumar, who attended Rykneld Boys' Secondary Modern School, which later merged with Bemrose Grammar School, was found dead at his home in Middlesbrough by police officers. He was 53.

A postmortem examination took place yesterday.

Ashok Kalia, who served as Mayor of Derby from 2000 to 2001, is a friend of the Mr Kumar's family.

He said: "I have seen Ashok's father, Jagat, and he and the rest of the family have been left completely devastated by the death.

"Ashok's brothers, Ravi and Raj, are in Middlesbrough and are waiting to find out the results of the autopsy.

"Ashok was Jagat's eldest son and never got married.

"He was full of life and just 53 when he died, which is no age at all and the last thing you would expect."

Mr Kalia said he knew the family, as his children went to Littleover School with Mr Kumar's younger brothers.

He said: "My daughter rang me with the news that Ashok had died and I could not believe it when she told me.

"Every time I met him he was always cracking jokes.

"He had a great sense of humour, always laughing and giggling.

"It is a very big shock with the community in Derby and is a horrible thing to have happened to anyone."

Mr Kalia said Mr Kumar's father last spoke to his son around a week ago.

He said: "Jagat told me that Ashok said he wanted to come and see him, but his father said with the General Election looming he should wait until afterwards.

"Now, sadly, that will not be the case."

Mr Kumar had represented Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland since 1997.

He became MP for Langbaurgh at a 1991 by-election, but narrowly lost the seat in the 1992 general election.

He stood again in 1997, when the constituency was redrawn as Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, and won with a 10,000-plus majority.

Mrs Beckett said she would be writing to Mr Kumar's family to offer her condolences.

She said: "It is the most terrible shock because 53 is no age at all."

Mr Kumar was found dead at his home at around 12.30pm on Monday after his staff were unable to reach him by telephone and raised the alarm.

Cleveland Police said yesterday that his death was due to natural causes.

Click here to leave a tribute to Mr Kumar.