A man who left more than £500,000 to charity shocked his friends who never knew he had so much money.

When John Tither, of Findon Road, Worthing, died in April he left £536,211 to The Leprosy Mission, The British and Foreign Bible Society, Tear Fund, Missions to Seamen and the Queen Alexandra Hospital Home in Boundary Road, Worthing.

The retired bank manager, who died aged 78, had lived a modest life with no luxuries.

His friend and brother-in-law, Julian Townsend, did not know Mr Tither had stashed away so much money.

He said: "He lived a very modest life. He put money to one side and you wouldn't know he had any at all.

"He mostly kept the house as his wife had left it and never bought anything luxurious.

"He just crumpled in the end. He did his time and died without any close relatives.

"I was the closest thing he had. I don't think he wanted to stay much longer."

Mr Tither had been stationed in African deserts with the tank corps during the Second World War and Mr Townsend believes it was during his time there that his friend became sympathetic to the plight of leprosy sufferers.

Mr Tither was a religious man and attended church every Sunday.