THE body of a former Tower of London Beefeater was found partially decomposed after lying undiscovered for several weeks.

Police said they were called to a flat in Berkeley Close, Nelson, to check on the welfare of a man in his 70s, after flies were spotted around his property.

After forcing their way into the flat around 1.30pm on Sunday, officers found the man named locally as Barry in the bedroom of the property.

His death is not being treated as suspicious.

It is understood the man may have been dead for some time and some neighbours said they had not seen the ex-soldier since early August.

Around six police and ambulance vehicles could be seen on the quiet street on Sunday afternoon.

It is understood a Lancashire police firearms team was brought in because they have access to breathing apparatus and underwater search personnel also attended because they have expertise in removing human remains.

Residents described the dead man, who is believed to have family in the South East, as ‘nice’ and ‘a private man’.

Neighbour John Sherratt, 78, said: “The police were there a good two hours initially. Another police car came and officers put on white suits and breathing apparatus and got him out. It was very sad.

“I don’t know how long he had been there but apparently there was a terrible smell coming from the flat yesterday. I couldn’t smell it but my neighbour could. I believe there were maggots coming through the wall and that’s when she rang the police.

“I got on with him alright but I don’t think anybody really knew him. From what I gather he had a caravan and he often went to Southport. He had lived there for about five or six years, initially with his wife but she died a few years ago.”

Fellow neighbour Linda Bullough said: “I knew him to speak to but he was a private man. I haven’t seen him for about three weeks.

“On Sunday I saw the police come. They were here for a long time.

“Barry was a nice man. A private man. He lost his wife a few years ago and now he was very unsteady on his feet.

“He told me he was in the army and he was a Beefeater at the Tower of London. He often went down south to visit his family. I think he has a son down there. It’s very tragic what’s happened.”

Another resident said: “We can’t comprehend what’s happened. We all care about each other around here and we’re very shocked. We saw the flies but we just thought they were there because of the hot weather.

“God rest his soul. Our thoughts and prayers are with Barry’s family. Our hearts go out to them.”

Robert Wright, 52, said: “He was a quiet person. He kept himself to himself. You knew he was in because his car was parked out at the front.

“On Sunday there was about six or seven police officers trying to get in to the house. When they did get in they had to have full face masks and boiler suits. One of them came down and said he was dead and then they brought his body out. I believe he was in the front bedroom when they found him.”

Neighbour Ronald Miller, 68, said: “He did his National Service and then he stayed in. I had a friend who served with him. He was also a Beefeater at the Tower of London.

“As a neighbour he was one who kept himself to himself. I saw him about a month ago when I was out with my dog and he said he was going to get one for the company but he never got around to it.

“I came home from church and the police vans were here. A neighbour told me he had died. It was sad news to here and very shocking.”

A police spokeswoman said that police investigations into the man’s death had now concluded and they had found no suspicious circumstances surrounding it.

She added that a file had been passed to the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale coroner.