Body found in garden at house

A man's body has been discovered in the back garden of a house in Upper Gornal, sparking a police probe.

Residents in Holloway Street have been left shocked following the discovery, which officers are today treating as "unexplained". The man has not yet been formally identified but has been named locally as 59-year-old Robert Bowley, who is believed to have lived alone at the address.

Scenes of crime officers spent hours combing the house for clues following the discovery of the body at around 2pm yesterday.

Officers at the scene said the body had been discovered by a work colleague.

Neighbours today told of their shock.

One, who did not wish to be named, said he had often shared a pint with Mr Bowley. "He was the kind of man that if you struck up a conversation with him he would be very friendly," he said.

"However if you didn't he was more than happy to just sit quietly with his drink. He was a man who kept himself to himself. This has come as a shock to everyone living here."

Another resident said they had been alarmed to see police in the street. "I saw them put the cordon up around the house. It was quite frightening," he said.

Cordons remained around the house until late into the evening and police remained posted outside the property.

Detective Inspector Will O'Connor confirmed the body of a 59-year-old man had been found in the rear garden of the property. "Investigations are continuing and we are currently treating the death as unexplained," he said.