THE family of a man whose body was discovered at a crushing plant spoke yesterday of their grief that he died just days short of becoming a grandfather.

David Griffiths' 21-year-old daughter, Kirsty, is due to have a baby any time now.

The former bouncer will also miss the birthday of his son David - named after his dad - who will be 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, on Friday last week.

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 had an argument 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 time she spoke to him was just after 3am last Friday when he rang her mobile phone and announced he was on his way home.

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.

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