POLICE who broke into the home of a 75-year-old Rossendale man found his body in conditions of abject squalor, an inquest heard.

Wilfred Carr, of Goodshaw Avenue, Loveclough, who lived alone, had wedged planks of wood behind his front and back doors so nobody could get in.

There were no carpets or electricity in the house, which was freezing cold, food and rubbish were strewn about and there were mouse droppings.

East Lancashire Coroner David Smith recorded a verdict of accidental death on Mr Carr, who kept himself to himself and would not accept help from social services or anybody else.

His body was found on the hallway floor on Tuesday by PC Brendan Watson, who had to force his way in through a downstairs kitchen window. PC Watson told the coroner he was on the floor facing the stairs and had been dead for some time.

There was bruising to the left hand side of his face and he was wearing an overcoat.

As there were no carpets on the floor he would have gone down with a big bang in a fall.

He may have hit his head on a door frame, but he had not fallen down the stairs.

PC Watson said police had gone to the house because the council's environmental health officers, who were investigating a complaint of mice next door, could not gain access.

Pathologist Dr W.D. Salman said Mr Carr had a heart condition and was unsteady on his feet, but death was due to subdural haematoma.

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