Wolverhampton's celebrity hermit has died.

11.05.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Sun 28th Oct 2007

Mr Stawinoga outside his Ring Road tent

Josef Stawinoga, a Polish war veteran, had lived in a tent in the middle Wolverhampton's ring road for more than 35 years. West Midlands Police confirmed the body of an 87-year-old man, named locally as Mr Stawinoga, was found in a tent on Sunday afternoon. The city council paid tribute to him saying he was part and parcel of life in the city for decades. If no next of kin or friends come forward to organise the funeral, the council will make the necessary arrangements.

Mr Stawinoga was allowed to stay in his tent on the ring road as he had a phobia of confined spaces, thought to have been caused by his ordeal as a prisoner of war during WWII.