By Hayley Robinson

A pensioner's decomposed body was only found after neighbours noticed a strong smell, an inquest has heard.

Paul Horton, of Crouch Hill Court, Lower Halstow, was found dead at his home on August 28.

His body was so decomposed that a post-mortem examination was unable to establish the cause of death.

An inquest held at County Hall, in Maidstone on Wednesday, heard that a neighbour of the 66-year-old had raised the alarm after noticing a bad smell and seeing flies around the house.

The neighbour told police she had not seen Mr Horton for at least 10 days.

Statements read out at the inquest from police officers said when they forced the front door open they found a decomposed body on the kitchen floor.

Police also described the house as neglected, saying the kitchen and bathroom were dirty and the garden was overgrown.

Inquiries by police established Mr Horton had moved into the house in the mid 1970s, and after his partner left in about 1997, he became more and more of a recluse.

A statement read out on behalf of Dr David Rouse, the pathologist who carried out the post-mortem, said: “There were no signs of injury or violence.

“In view of the extent of decomposition I was unable to ascertain a cause of death.”

Coroner Roger Sykes concluded: “The cause of death is unascertained and because of the extent of decomposition I cannot even be satisfied it was entirely natural causes so I return an open verdict."