A MAN with a history of mental health problems has been found in a "gruesome" state in his Downley home after police forced their way through his front door.

The man, believed to be in his 30s, was discovered dead in his council flat in Cotswold Way after police broke in following fears for his safety.

Although he has not been identified police say he is well known to mental health workers and was believed not to have been taking his medication prompting cause for concern.

His body was found in a badly decomposed state on Thursday, May 12, at around 3.12pm, and police say he could have been lying there for a significant "length of time".

It is not known how the man died and investigations are ongoing.

A spokesman said: "There was no answer from the address and entry was made in accordance with a warrant.

"There was quite a lot of blood around. He was in a gruesome state," he added.

A police forensic team was called to help preserve the state of the body but was later disbanded.

The flat and a neighbouring property were sealed off while police treated the area as a crime scene.

A council spokesman said: "The police informed the council on May 12 that a man's body had been discovered in a flat in Cotswold Way, Downley. We can confirm that this is a general needs flat, owned by the council and as such we are currently liaising with Thames Valley Police."

Nasser Hashmi, who lives below the flat, said he knew the man had health problems because he could always hear him coughing loudly at night.

He said: "He hardly slept at 3, 4, 5am, he was up and we could hear him."

Police have released the body for further examination and the man is yet to be identified.

They are keeping an open mind as to what happened.

By NIC BRUNETTI & JENNA TOWLER