Neighbours spoke of their shock today after the body of an elderly man - thought to have been dead for some time - was discovered in his York flat.

A post mortem is to be held later today on Horace Wilkinson, 64, who was found when police and council workers entered his home in Shannon House, Margaret Street, yesterday afternoon.

Mr Wilkinson is understood to have suffered from epileptic fits and police do not believe there are any suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

City of York Council said officials had been investigating rent arrears at the flat since November. An officer had visited Mr Wilkinson's flat before Christmas but he had not answered the door, said housing manager Tom Brittain. However, it had not appeared there was anything untoward and he was happy that all procedures had been undertaken correctly.

A neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said he had not seen Mr Wilkinson since before Christmas, but thought he might have been staying with relatives during the holiday.

The first he knew anything was wrong was when police and council workers arrived yesterday and got into the ground floor flat using a ladder.

He added that one of the council workers told him they had come to the flat because Mr Wilkinson's family was concerned that they had not been able to contact him.

"I just saw him now and again," the neighbour said. "The last time I saw him before Christmas he complained of having a bad back."

Maureen Harrison, who lives in another part of Shannon House, said she knew Mr Wilkinson "to say hello", adding: "I'm really sorry. He was a really quiet chap, he never bothered anybody. He was a very withdrawn person."

Mrs Harrison said he used to mend bicycles, adding: "It seemed to keep him going."

She believed Mr Wilkinson had suffered from fits and had not worked for a long time. He had lived in the area for at least 13 years.

The postmaster at nearby Walmgate Post Office, Brian Fletcher, said Mr Wilkinson had lived in the area at least 10 to 15 years. He had been in his present flat for about three years, after being moved from a first floor flat in Shannon House.

Mr Fletcher said Mr Wilkinson suffered epileptic fits and had fallen off his bicycle once or twice because of them.

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