AN ELDERLY man lived in his New Forest mobile home unaware that his brother with whom he shared the property had been dead in bed for months.

Police officers went to the property on Blissford Hill near Fordingbridge after they received a call from Herbert Silver, 72, saying his brother George had just died.

They were expecting to find a body, but instead found a skeleton.

An inquest is due to be held later this month to determine the circumstances surrounding his death, but it is not believed to be suspicious.

DS Dave Brown, who went to the run-down mobile home, told the Daily Echo: "There was a badly decomposed body at the premises."

The body of Mr Silver, 75, is thought to have lain in the bed in the bedroom just off the main living area of the mobile home for up to 18 months.

Bert Silver described himself and his brother as "typical bachelors".

They had moved from Bexleyheath to the hamlet of Blissford about 12 years ago when they retired.

Older brother George had done National Service with the Army Catering Corps and then, upon Brother dead for months in next room

his return to civilian life, is thought to have worked for the then London Electricity Board.

Herbert, or "Bert" as he prefers to be known, had a hearing problem and missed out on National Service.

He says he worked for Kent County Council in the roads and bridges department.

George was a keen fisherman and a member of Ringwood and District Anglers' Association until his membership lapsed last year.

Bert is still shocked and distressed about the death and subsequent cremation at Salisbury of his brother.

He is confused about why it took him such a long time to locate his brother's body, even though it was feet away in the bedroom adjoining the sitting room.

Tragedy

"I'm not my brother's keeper and I'm not at his beck and call," he said.

Referring to the day he found the body he said: "It was one of those days you don't want to happen."

He said he wants to put the tragedy behind him. "I want to wrap it up, stow it and put it away."

The thought of attending the inquest in Southampton on Thursday, February 19, is a frightening prospect, he said.

The Southampton Coroner has yet to make a decision about whether Bert Silver will have to give evidence.

Director of Age Concern Hampshire, Chris Perry, expressed his regret about Mr Silver's death.

He did not want to comment on any particular case.

But he said: "If anyone is living next door to anyone - of any age - and if you haven't seen them for some time, knock on the door and see if they're all right and, if you're concerned, alert the authorities."