Neighbours of a man found dead in his flat in mysterious circumstances have paid tribute to an “old rocker”.

A postman raised the alarm after noticing smoke coming from the flat of “music mad” John Ball, 60. Police found his body after forcing their way into his flat in Canalside Square on the Packington estate last Monday.

There was evidence that there had been a fire in the flat, where he lived alone, but it is not known when or how it started. It is not believed he had any children. London Fire Brigade was alerted and an investigations team attended the following day. The police and fire investigations are continuing and Mr Ball’s death is being treated as unexplained.

Mr Ball was part of a group of friends who had been rehoused in the new Canalside flats after the redevelopment of the Packington estate, where he had lived since the 1970s. Before that he lived in the Essex Road area.

A friend, Mary, who did not wish to give her surname, lived close to him in both places.

“He was a good friend and exceptionally kind,” she said. “He was very well liked and would help anyone. We all loved him, even the kids on the estate did. He was a big character and will be missed.

“He was always singing – he was a big Aerosmith fan. I couldn’t believe what had happened. I last saw him when he walked the dog with me.”

Mary, who lived in the block next to Mr Ball, added: “No one noticed a big fire or anything.

“It’s so sad – I can just see him walking down the hall now pretending to play guitar.”

Another friend described Mr Ball as “quiet” but “music mad”.

• Keywords
  DEATH, FIRE
• Geographical keyword
  CANALSIDE SQUARE
• Persons keyword
  Packington Estate, John Ball