THE body of a man found in a flat in Morton Road on Monday evening could have lain undetected for several weeks, it has been revealed. Neighbours of the man, known locally as Andrew Friend, who was thought to be in his early 60s, this week expressed their sorrow at the news of his death.

THE body of a man found in a flat in Morton Road on Monday evening could have lain undetected for several weeks, it has been revealed.Neighbours of the man, known locally as Andrew Friend, who was thought to be in his early 60s, this week expressed their sorrow and sympathy at the news of his death.Mr Friend's body was found by paramedics when his landlord, Ken Higgs, raised the alarm after becoming concerned for his tenant's welfare. Exmouth police and CID officers were called to the scene, but any suspicions of foul play were immediately ruled out.An investigation into the man's death is now under way. A post-mortem was being carried out at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.A police spokesman said the man's body could have been inside the property for several weeks. The landlord of the property said he raised the alarm after noticing Mr Friend's post had began to mount up and a visitor had been unable to make contact.Landlord Mr Higgs, 64, used a spare key to let himself into Mr Friend's flat.He said he realised Mr Friend, a tenant for around two years, had died when he saw him lying face down on the floor of the sitting room.Mr Higgs, a mechanic, said he had been shocked by the discovery."I came running downstairs and got myself a drink rather quickly and waited for the ambulance to come," he said. "You read about this sort of thing, but you don't expect it on your own doorstep."He was a nice man who kept himself to himself."Abi Addison, a shop assistant at Carol's Bakery, St Andrew's Road, where Mr Friend regularly bought a newspaper and crossword puzzle books, said: "He was a genuinely nice chap. It's such a shame it happened to him.