A MAN fell to his death from the third floor balcony of a council estate tower block.

Paul Townsley, 48, of Lodsworth Close, Brighton, died at around 2pm when he plummeted from his top-floor flat in the Whitehawk estate.

An air ambulance, road ambulance and numerous police cars were called to the scene as concerned neighbours looked on in shock.

Mr Townsley is believed to have lived at the Lodsworth tower block with his brother Peter, 46.

A friend of the brothers said: "I've known the brothers for 20 years and its very unfortunate what's happened. We are distraught. 

"It's still very fresh. We don't know what's at the heart of it." 

Neighbour Amy Cullen, 27, said: “I didn’t know the bothers really but I’d seen them around.

“It’s horrible to know someone has died like that on your doorstep.

“It’s not a nice thing to happen.”

Residents said Mr Townsley would be regularly spotted walking a small dog.

Police officers carried out door-to-door enquiries into yesterday evening while forensics officers combed the closed-off scene and took photographs.

Mr Townsley’s body remained on the pavement beneath his flat, covered by a sheet and tent, as officers carried out their enquiries.

Patricia Woolmer, who lives in the same tower block as the Townsley brothers, said: “I didn’t know them but I knew they lived together and would see them about with the dog now and then.

“I heard what happened, it’s very sad.”

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “Police and ambulance personnel are attending an incident in Swanborough Drive, Brighton, where a man is thought to have fallen from a third floor window of a building.

“Emergency services were called at 2.01pm on Tuesday to Lodsworth where the man, believed to be in his mid-40s, had fallen.

“An air ambulance has landed near the scene.”