NEIGHBOURS have spoken of their sadness after a pensioner was discovered hanging in his house.

Raymond Perry, 72, of Willis Road, Haddenham, was found when police broke into his house at 12.30pm on May 11.

Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator for the road Susan Geenes said the residents in the road were close-knit, though Mr Perry, who had lived in the street for four years, would often remain aloof.

She said: "He very much kept himself to himself. I used to pass him in the street and say, 'Good day' and he could be chatty but we didn't often talk."

Mrs Geenes added: "It was a great shock to hear he had died. I still think about it."

Neighbour Walter Smith, 82, said Mr Perry's death was a shock.

Mr Smith added that he sometimes heard Mr Perry through the walls but it did not dawn on him when Mr Perry had not been heard for a few days.

Police were called to the house when friends became suspicious that Mr Perry had not been seen.

Neighbours saw him draw the curtains of his bungalow on Monday morning but nothing was seen of him after that.

It is believed Mr Perry had recently become depressed when his wife became ill.

A police spokesman said the force acted on information received and found Mr Perry's body in his own home and there were no suspicious circumstances.

An inquest was opened and adjourned to a later date.