RESIDENTS have expressed their shock after a neighbour was found dead in his home last week.

Several floral tributes from family and friends have been left outside the house of Andrew Forrest in Florence Street, Burnley. Messages of 'rest in peace' were left by loved ones and one of his grandchildren described him as 'the best grandad in the world'.

The 49-year-old's death is being treated as unexplained after police found the dad-of-one at his home last Tuesday (March 19) at around 3.15pm.

Tributes have been paid to the Clarets fan. Plasterer Graham Webster, who has known Mr Forrest for 25 years, said he saw the former window cleaner at H R Service Station, on Accrington Road, just 24 hours before he was found dead by police.

Tearfully, the 46-year-old said: "I saw him at 7.25am last Monday. I past him a cigarette and talked to him for 10 seconds before I had to rush off.

"It was a shock knowing I saw him 24 hours before the day he was found. I do not understand how this could have happened."

Lancashire Telegraph:

Pensioner Steve Simpson, of Florence Street, said he has known Mr Forrest for several years, playing pool together in several local pubs.

The 66-year-old said: "It was a big shock. He was a good lad and used to play in a pool team together in a lot of the local pubs. I just want this all to be sorted and find out what happened to him."

Andrea Metcalfe, who has lived moved from Doncaster to Florence Street six months ago, said he used to occasionally spoke with Mr Forrest when he went for strolls. The 50-year-old man said: "I was quite shocked when I found out. He was a nice man."

Christine Wilson, 58, who has lived on Florence Street for 38 years, said: "Nothing like this has happened in my time here."