Friends and colleagues have paid tribute to a superstore worker who died after going to hospital with a suspected insect bite.

David Selmes, 40, had arrived at work at the photographic counter of Asda in Hollingbury with flu-like symptoms.

When his leg began to swell he told colleagues he must have been bitten while cutting his lawn.

When his condition worsened, Mr Selmes was rushed to the Royal Sussex County Hospital where he received medication and underwent tests.

But as he prepared to go home with flatmate Louise Barnett, Mr Selmes collapsed. Despite the efforts of medical staff, he could not be resuscitated.

The assistant's sudden death has left friends and colleagues at Asda distraught.

Customers and staff have been signing a book of condolence.

Many of the messages refer to Mr Selmes' smiling face and witty banter.

One customer wrote: "You made my days when I came in - your personality will be greatly missed".

Mr Selmes had worked at Hollingbury for almost three years. He moved to Brighton from the Sutton Coldfield area, where his brothers and sisters live. He is expected to be buried there.

For the last seven months he lived in Whitehawk with colleague Ms Barnett, her two daughters and son.

She said she and her children had lost "the most caring, generous, loving bloke" they had ever known.

She added: "He would give you his last penny. He was bright and bubbly.

"He was a barrel of laughs and would make friends wherever he went. He was a top man - the best in the world."

Mr Selmes, who was single and gay, was a regular at the Regency pub and Storm and Revenge nightclubs.

Ms Barnett, 36, said: "We lived together, worked together and went out together.

"He'd had a really good week and we were mucking around at work all day on Friday. He'd been unwell in the morning with flu symptoms and then he noticed his leg had swollen.

"Later he started going hot and cold and his hands were going blue so we called the medics."

She said: "They gave him some stockings to wear and we were laughing about that and discussing going home. He wanted to go to McDonald's.

"They gave him his medication and seconds later he was gone. He was holding my hand - it was so quick. It was horrible but I was glad he wasn't alone."

John Horton, the manager of Asda's photographic department, said: "He was always ready for a joke.

"If one of the girls had a problem he would turn up with a bunch of flowers or a card. He would remember their birthdays.

"He went out of his way to make people happier. The day after he died you could feel the atmosphere in the store. There is such a lot of shock."

Asda Hollingbury is making a collection in Mr Selmes's memory. A post-mortem examination will be held.