Tributes have been paid to a former addict who spent years helping others stay away from drugs.

Tributes have been paid to a former addict who spent years helping others stay away from drugs.

Archie Bunce, 53, from Heath Lane in Mundesley, died shortly after 5pm last Thursday after being taken to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

Speaking on Sunday, friends and neighbours described Archie as a “highly likeable” man who had spent much of his life warning others about the dangers of drugs.

Parish councillor Fred Cousins said that Archie had come to Mundesley about 20 years ago and had been treated for addiction to a variety of hard drugs at The Diana, Princess of Wales Treatment Centre in nearby Gimingham.

Archie had then become an anti-drugs counsellor with the charity Alcohol and Drug Addiction Prevention and Treatment, which runs the centre, and also helped out at the Mundesley Youth Drop-In Centre, he said.

Mr Cousins said: “He turned himself round from taking drugs and became a first-class citizen.

“He did a lot of work to prevent further drug- taking and did a marvellous job at the drop-in centre.

“He was a really friendly chap, always chatting to people and was extremely popular among people who knew him.”

A neighbour in Heath Lane said: “He was a nice chap and everybody got on with him, we are very sad about his death.”

Toxicology tests are being carried out on Mr Bunce to establish the cause of his death.

A 34-year-old man from Norwich was arrested on suspicion of supplying controlled drugs and has been released on police bail until the end of February.