Pensioner, 93, 'stabbed himself'

The body of Albert Taylor was found by an old friend and neighbour on the common at the front of his house on Longridge, in Knutsford, Cheshire, shortly after 8.30am.

Jim Comley, 76, who has known Mr Taylor for 37 years, said the pensioner was curled up, his hands covered in blood.

He died from a single, self-inflicted stab wound, the post-mortem results showed.

A Cheshire Police spokeswoman said: "The cause of death can now be confirmed as a fatal incision. From the findings of the Home Office pathologist, police are satisfied there is no evidence of an attack by a third party and the matter has now been placed in the hands of the coroner."

Police would not commit themselves to calling Mr Taylor's death suicide. A six-inch kitchen knife was found a yard from his body.

Shocked neighbours, who knew the war hero as "Old Bob", said he was well-liked, still active and seemed happy in himself. He was thought of a "real gentlemen" by everyone who knew him, a police spokesman said.

The widower, who lived alone in a terraced council house, enjoyed fishing and painting and regularly met friends on Sunday lunchtimes for a pint at his local pub.

Mr Comley said Mr Taylor had been decorated for his army service in the Second World War.

He leaves behind a nephew, who lives in Plymouth, and a sister-in-law, who lives in Manchester.