Two men who died after falling down a lift shaft over the weekend have been named as Daniel Digby, 25, and Michael Dawson, 27.

David Digby's father, Nelson, said: "I, together with my family and friends, am devastated at the loss of my son, David. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to Michael's family. They did not deserve to lose their lives in such a tragic way."

Michael Dawson was a club DJ. His father, Robert, said: "Only a few hours earlier, Mike had been DJ-ing in a Soton club. Playing and making music was Mike's life."

A post-mortem revealed the men died from multiple injuries. They were believed to have been involved in a fight after leaving a party at a seventh floor flat when they hit the lift doors, which fell open.

The entrance to Shirley Towers was cordoned off

Their bodies were found moments later at the foot of Shirley Towers, a 15-storey tower block on Church Street in Shirley, Southampton.

As police and fire-fighters cordoned off parts of the building, residents told of their shock at the accident.

One mother, who did not wish to be identified, said: "My daughter was at the party and a lot of the girls are in a terrible state, just sitting around crying. "It is a shocking thing that these two lads should die like that. The lift doors should never have opened, they are just not designed to do that."

Thirteen people were at the party, including the two victims, who were local to the area, but were not believed to be residents of the tower block.

Police say the circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear.