SHOCKED neighbours of Robert White thought he’d gone fishing.

Val and Delfino Maggi, who live next door to the town centre flat, said: “We assumed he was out at sea.

“We thought he was a trawlerman. When we found out we were quite choked.”

Astonishingly, it transpired Mr White may have died 18 months earlier.

Mrs Maggi, who is registered blind, said: “When we moved here almost six years ago, he introduced us to his two daughters.

“They must have been aged 11 or 12. But they were seldom here.

“I cannot understand how his family did not know what had happened to him.”

Other neighbours said Mr Smith, known to some as Bob, used to drink in the nearby Lord Nelson pub.

Mrs Maggi, 75, explained: “We couldn’t smell anything but the police later told us all the windows had been open. If all the windows were open, it must have happened at a warm time of year.

“We’ve had no flies in here; nothing like that.”

The block has six flats on each floor, separated into two corridor areas by a stairwell and lifts.

Another elderly resident, who asked not to be named, said: “The fact is we just don’t know a lot about our neighbours any more.

“In the old days I could give you the names of everyone in the block.

“Today, I couldn’t tell you who lived on my floor.”

Mr Maggi, 80, said the last time he saw Mr Smith was about two years ago.

“He said he was going fishing and gave me some mackerel.

“I’ve since heard stories he may have travelled quite a lot – maybe his family thought he was overseas.”

Mrs Maggi added: “I like to think he’s gone fishing. He seemed a decent man.”