Witness appeal in pensioner death riddle

SHOCK: the property on Houseley Avenue where Bill Singleton lived

NEIGHBOURS have spoken of their shock after a man in his eighties died after beng detained by a householder for reportedly damaging a car

Police are appealing for witnesses following the death of the man named locally as widower and great grandfather Bill Singleton.

Officers were called to Houseley Avenue, Chadderton, at 8.45pm on Saturday following reports a man had been damaging a car and a neighbour had detained him. Officers arrived just after 10pm.

Mr Singleton fell ill while speaking to officers and is believed to have suffered a heart attack.

Officers attemped to revive him but he died later in hospital. A post-mortem examination was due to take place yesterday. No arrests have been made and the death is not being treated as suspicious.

A close neighbour said: “He was a really nice guy. He was a keen gardener and he used to help my neighbour with her garden. He knew quite a lot of people up and down the street.

“I don’t think he would damage someone’s property — he is more likely to help people. It is a real shock, I only saw him yesterday. He was always quite fit and healthy and I couldn’t believe what had happened at first.”

Det Insp Richard Ennis said: “We are investigating the circumstances but we are not treating his death as suspicious. I would ask anyone in the Houseley Avenue area at around 8.45pm to call police.

Information can be given to police on 0161-856 9049 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555 111.