RESIDENTS in St George's Road in Netherton have been left distraught after discovering the body of a neighbour who is believed to have lain dead for two months in her council flat.

Neighbour Jeff Smith says he alerted police after suspecting something was wrong - having not seen his neighbour for some time.

He said he and another resident knocked on the woman's door this morning (Friday February 12) and when they opened the letterbox they just knew she had died.

Mr Smith told the News there was an awful smell emanating from the letter box and he said after discovering his neighbour had passed away: "It's knocked me about. I should have done something sooner.

"She was such a lovely woman."

He said the woman, believed to be in her 40s, kept herself to herself and would rarely leave her flat.

Mr Smith said she was afraid to venture out and would barricade herself in and she wouldn't put the heating on so he fears she may have frozen to death as temperatures plummeted.

Horrified to think she may have died alone in such a way and also lain dead for two months undiscovered - he added: "She shouldn't have been left to live the way she was and die in those conditions. It's disgusting. You wouldn't leave a stray dog in those conditions."

Neighbours say they raised the alarm shortly before 10am this morning and police arrived on the scene quickly and the body was later taken away by the coroner.

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said officers were called at 9.38am but there were no suspicious circumstances and gave no further details.

Mr Smith said it's not the first time something like this has happened. He said a neighbour was found dead, having passed away some weeks earlier, about three or four years ago.

He called on the council to do more to check on isolated and vulnerable tenants especially during the coronavirus lockdown, and he has also urged for a clean up team to attend to help remove the lingering odour following the grim discovery.

Councillor Laura Taylor, Dudley Council's cabinet member for housing and community services, later said: “We are aware of the tragic death of a council tenant and our thoughts go out to their friends and family at this terribly sad time.

"While we’re not able to comment on individual circumstances, we have liaised with the police and have visited the property to take care of essential arrangements.”