Friends and family have paid tribute to an off-duty prison officer who was killed outside a pub in the early hours of Christmas Day.

Father-of-two Nick Medlin, 57, formerly of Park Street, died shortly after midnight following an alleged assault outside the Rose Inn pub on Pier Street, Ventnor, on the Isle of Wight.

Michael Hudson, 32, of no fixed address, has been charged with manslaughter and has been remanded in custody to appear at Winchester Crown Court on January 23.

Two men, aged 31 and 26, who were arrested on suspicion of murder, have been bailed until April 11 pending further enquiries.

Hampshire Constabulary has appealed for witnesses to come forward.

Mr Medlin lived in the St Albans area until he moved to the island in 2014 to start a career at HMP Parkhurst.

In a statement released by police, his family said: “We are completely devastated and totally heartbroken by the tragic death of Nick on Christmas Eve.

“The family wishes to thank everyone for their kind tributes, and ask for privacy to grieve at this very sad time.”

A crowdfunding page set up by one of Mr Medlin’s former colleagues to help pay the funeral costs described him as a “one off true gentleman”.

It added: “Nick was a well-respected member of the section, and his peers thought the world of him. He brought a smile to everyone’s faces and even turned some of the dullest subjects into humour, bringing together his life experiences and knowledge.

“There was never a dull moment, and Nick was a man who injected enthusiasm into everyone he met. Nick was a one off true gentleman and a well-respected prison officer.”

The page has so far raised more than £1,300 towards its £10,000 target.

Mr Medlin was a keen musician, playing bass guitar in punk band Manufactured Romance.