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The body of a lonely pensioner was carried out of his home days after a neighbour warned social services - "you will find him dead".

Former bus driver George Jones, 82, had no family and had lived alone for around 20 years after the death of his partner.

Fiercely independent, Mr Jones maintained an active social life - but his health began to deteriorate and he spent a few weeks in Sedgemoor care home, in Norris Green , after breaking his hip in a fall while out shopping on December 10 last year.

The proud pensioner signed himself out, and kind-hearted neighbours in Three But Lane, West Derby , tried their best to keep an eye on him.

But they grew increasingly anxious about his wellbeing, especially after Mr Jones was again found collapsed on the pavement near his home on February 13.

(Image: Geoff Davies/Liverpool Echo)

Keith Johnson, 40, helped Mr Jones into his living room and called an ambulance, while he and other neighbours also raised the alarm with Liverpool City Council and Merseyside Police .

Mum-of-three Janet Sheridan, who lived opposite Mr Jones, described telling Liverpool Council "you are going to find him dead".

Two police officers did visit his home on February 15 - concluding he was "safe and well" and no further action was necessary - a decision which angered some of Mr Jones' neighbours.

Three days later, on February 19, their worst fears were realised when he was found dead by social workers.

'He can't cope on his own'

Mrs Sheridan, 57, said he "could be stubborn" when it came to accepting help and Liverpool Council confirmed he had signed himself out of Sedgemoor rehabilitation centre against their advice.

She described how Mr Jones would get himself out and about and even seemed to settle back into his old routine for a while after leaving the care home.

But she and other neighbours said it was increasingly obvious Mr Jones was struggling.

Mrs Sheridan said: "Someone from social services should have come and checked on him. If I had left a dog in a house like that the RSPCA would have got onto me.

(Image: Geoff Davies)

"There were bits of carpet up, and there was filth and dirt in his kitchen everywhere, you could not get in the fridge. I said you cannot eat off this because you'll get seriously ill, he would just say 'that's what I have always done'.

"He did get himself out and about, but he had no one to look after him. We would pick up a few messages for him and get him some milk, but two weeks after he came out of the care home I phoned social services and said 'he can't cope on his own'.

"I didn't hear anything back for two weeks, so I phoned again and said 'you are going to find him dead'.

"He was a stubborn man, but he should not have been allowed to come out on his own, or at least he should have been followed up. They should have done something. I just hope this stops someone else having to live like that."

'They had a duty of care'

Mr Johnson, who called an ambulance for Mr Jones on the 13th, said the pensioner had seemed underweight and seemed increasingly unsteady on his feet.

He told the ECHO: "Two officers came in, looked around and said everything was ok. How can you say everything was ok? They had a duty of care to that man.

"It's absolutely broken my heart. I have just lost all faith in these services. If that was a mental health patient standing on a bridge they would have been there straight away.

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"George was failed. You hear all the time to check on your elderly neighbours. Well we held up our side of the bargain, and they needed to step in."

A spokeswoman for Merseyside Police told the ECHO: "We attended at a property on Three Butt Lane in West Derby at 8.45am on Friday 15 February following reports of concern for the welfare of an elderly gentleman.

"The gentleman was found safe and well. We were contacted again on Tuesday 19 February and attended the property where the gentleman was found deceased."

All further questions were directed to Liverpool City Council.

Another neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said he looks out for the elderly residents of the street and contacted Merseyside Police after Mr Jones' fall on the 13th.

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He said: "I just think it's sad that the old boy had to die on like that, on his own with no-one going to be there.

"I think it's sad and I think that's pretty s***. It's despicable. People will just come home from work these days, shut the door and not care what is going on with their neighbours. They don't give a s***."

Painful past

Many people who lived around Mr Jones knew very little about him when asked by the ECHO.

They described a man used to his own company - but who enjoyed a drink with friends in West Derby Village and liked to put a bet on.

Neighbour Lorraine Bannister, 29, said: "You would see him walking back from the village, he used to go drinking at the Conservative Club.

"We have lived here three years and you would never see any family coming to visit. He seemed to have an arrangement with a taxi driver who would pick him up and take him out."

But Mrs Sheridan knew a little more about his past life.

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She said he had been married years before she knew him - and had a son who died as a child.

He had moved into Three But Lane with a former partner she knew as Joyce who died around 20 years ago after a fall down the stairs.

Mrs Sheridan said: "He wasn't a rich man, he used to be a bus driver but he had to retire after a heart attack so he was living on his pension.

"He was a bit of a joker, he would wind up the bar maids at the Conservative Club and he liked to put a bet on."

What do the council say?

(Image: Geoff Davies)

Liverpool City Council confirmed Mr Jones was known to social services.

A spokesman said: "We can confirm that this gentleman was known to Liverpool City Council and we were actively involved in his care.

"He had been a residing at our Sedgemoor Reablement Hub following a stay in hospital over Christmas. We were in the process of developing a comprehensive package of care in preparation for him returning home.

"However, he took the decision to discharge himself from the centre early. He was assessed and found to have the capacity to do so.

"In circumstances such as these we cannot keep people against their will, however he was advised that it would be better for him to stay.

"Our social care workers visited his home on 19 February and spoke to neighbours who were concerned for his welfare. We in turn notified Merseyside Police who visited his address and found his body."

An appeal has been circulated to any potential next of kin for Mr Jones.

Lisa McElvogue, an investigation officer at the Coroner's Office, said efforts to locate a family member had been unsuccessful so far and investigations are continuing into the circumstances of his death.

Anyone with information about Mr Jones' next of kin is asked to contact Ms McElvogue on 0151 233 0128 or by emailing Lisa.McElvogue@liverpool.gov.uk .