THE body of a pensioner was found in his home more than a month after he died.

Today neighbours said the horrific discovery of Bernard Kelly, 78, in his terraced house in Eldwick Street, Burnley, demonstrates how communities are no longer close-knit.

And the case has prompted campaigners for the elderly to call for people to bring back "old fashioned community support" and regularly check on vulnerable residents.

An inquest into the death of Mr Kelly was opened and heard that he had laid undiscovered for so long it was initially impossible to identify him.

Police officers, who smashed down his front door to get in, used pictures in the property to compare with the height and build of Mr Kelly to confirm it was him. The inquest was adjourned to a later date for toxicological and historiological tests to verify a cause of death.

Insp Dave Hodson said the death was not suspicious. He added: "We are assuming he was there for more than four weeks from the fact that the body was decomposed and mail documentation in the house was over four weeks old."

The front door of the property is now boarded up but horrified neighbours say there were newspapers spilling out the letterbox before the pensioner's body was found. They say Mr Kelly had lived in the property for at least 18 years.

Kelly Berry, 24, said: "I did not know him but I feel really guilty. I think it's disgusting. I don't know what it says about us as a street that he was there for so long."

John Campbell, 34, said: "It's not like communities used to be, people don't look out for each other any more. It's quite bad. I saw him a few weeks ago outside his front door and it must have been just before he died."

Another neighbour Ben Johnson, 20, said: "It shows what the world is coming to doesn't it. It's scary that a guy was laid there for five weeks and no one knew."

Sophie Dixon, of Help the Aged, said: "If you have older neighbours call round sometime just for a cup of tea or a chat, just to get the old- fashioned community support back. Look after your neighbours, especially if they are vulnerable and at risk of having an accident around the house."