RESIDENTS told of their shock after a man's body was found behind flats where they say it is believed he plunged from his top floor window.

Police and paramedics descended on the quiet block of flats in North Baddesley after being alerted by a resident who came across the body.

There was a heavy presence of police and forensics throughout yesterday as an investigation got underway and a white tent was put up in the area close to the back of St David's Court flats, in Bracken Road.

The deceased, who was named locally as 74-year-old James Horn, but known as Jim to neighbours, was found at 6.45am.

The tent was later removed and the police cordon and presence scaled back. A post mortem was due to take place last night.

Residents in the flats, which are mainly for elderly people, told of their shock and sadness at events, particularly as a number of them said they had lent a hand to help the victim out with shopping and other tasks.

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A 79-year-old woman living nearby told how she had made the discovery as she went round to feed the birds at the bird table.

"I dashed around and that's when I saw.

"I just ran in and called the police.

"I thought poor man. I could see he was dead.

"It's so sad."

The woman, who said she recognised who it was, looked up and saw the window on the second floor was wide open, which was the man's flat where he lived alone.

She said she had heard a loud noise the night before at around 10.30pm from outside but does not know if that was related to what happened.

She said she knew him to say hello to and her husband had once taken Mr Horn to Asda after he had asked for a lift and said he had brought her back a bunch of flowers to say thank you.

Nearby resident David Billington, said Mr Horn had been visited by carers for meals three times a day, but he himself would go in three or four times a day to help out.

He had brought him his newspaper that morning when he was told by a policeman what had happened.

He said the police had told him that Mr Horn had fallen from his window.

"He was a quiet man, kept himself to himself.

"He said hello to people - a lot of people in the village got to know him."

Mr Billington said he understood Mr Horn had moved into the block about two years ago having previously lived in Mottisfont.

Another said they believed he was a retired farm worker.

Residents in the two storey flats said people kept themselves to themselves, but many had greeted Mr Horn in passing and said he was frequently out in the community or at the nearby shops, though said he was frail and walked very slowly.

Bernard Shorthouse, 80, said: "You don't expect a sudden death like that at all - it's always somewhat shocking and tragic that an elderly person dies on their own in sudden circumstances like that.

"He was a bit of a character."

Many residents expressed surprise that anyone could come out of the window as they have catches on them that are designed to prevent them from opening fully.

Roger Blake, 63, said: "You don't expect such things to happen on your doorstep."