Health and safety officials have been called in after a night security guard was found dead at a derelict home for the elderly.

The 45-year-old man was found dead in the remains of Wimborne House, a former care home waiting to be redeveloped in Taunton Vale, Gravesend.

Police said the man's death was unexplained. They were carrying out inquiries with the Health and Safety Executive but one theory being followed is that he was overcome by fumes.

Neighbours said they had seen a small generator in the office to keep security staff warm at night.

The man has not been named, but is believed to have been living in east London after coming to the UK from Africa.

At one point there were eight police, three forensics vehicles, a fire engine, ambulance and HSE teams at the scene. They were called after staff could not raise the man behind locked doors at the property on Friday morning.

They forced their way into the property and discovered him dead in an office.

A police spokesman said: "The death is currently being treated as unexplained.

"Kent Police and the Health and Safety Executive are carrying out inquiries."

A spokesman for the building's owners Sanctuary said: "The man was not employed by the Sanctuary Group. A private security firm was contracted to look after the building."

The contractor was Camelot Property Management Ltd who hired in another company, Anchor Security Services, to provide the watchmen. Neither security firm was prepared to comment.

"We will be making no further comment on this because the police are the lead authority," an official from the Health and Safety Executive said.