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POLICE are trying to trace an anonymous caller who alerted them about a murdered pensioner.

David Farish’s body was found in his flat after the tip-off.

Murder squad detectives have appealed for the mystery caller to get back in touch.

Detective Inspector David Pinkney said: “We are in the initial stages of our inquiries to establish the full circumstances surrounding David’s death.

“However, as a result of the investigative and forensic work already carried out, we are satisfied that he has been murdered.

“We were alerted to David’s body being within his flat by an anonymous caller who hung up quickly without leaving any details.

“I would request that individual to urgently get back in touch and help us with our investigation.

David, 75, was found dead in his home in Galashiels, Selkirkshire , on Thursday afternoon.

Forensic officers have been scouring the flat in a bid to find clues about how he was killed.

Neighbours said David was a heavy drinker, who had been visited several times by someone

in a black car in the weeks before his death.

One neighbour, who wished not to be named, said: “David had lived there for many years and even though he is an alcoholic, he’s never really caused me any problems.

“There’s been this black car coming to visit David over the last two months but I don’t know

who it is.

“The driver is a man in his mid to late 30s. Two weeks ago, he came to David’s back door and I heard them having a row. David said, ‘F *** off and don’t come back’ to the car driver.

“He didn’t argue. He just did an about turn and left.

“He came back after that with a wee girl in the car. She went up to the door but he stayed in the car.”

The neighbour added: “I’m pretty shocked that this has happened to David. No one deserves to die like that.

“He tended to keep himself to himself but he would walk to the shops every day to get his cigarettes.

“Sometimes, some younger lads from the flats would come across to David’s house, but I don’t know who they are.

“David never used his front door – he always used the one by the garden. But the police have been

looking and taking pictures of the front door, so whoever they are looking for must have gone in through there.

“I hadn’t seen David since last Sunday when I was out washing my windows.

“It’s been awful weather and very slippery outside, so I’ve been keeping an eye out for him.”

The neighbour said she though David was a father-of-five who had separated from his wife Margaret Gibson many years ago.

He lived alone in the three-storey housing association block of flats.

The kitchen window on the lower level of the building was closed off yesterday afternoon as forensic teams removed items from the flat.

A female relative who answered the door of David’s brother James’s house said: “There isn’t really much we know about what happened. Obviously, it’s quite a shock –it’s the last thing you expect.

“We are just speaking to his brothers and sisters and they’re in a bit of a state. The family is scattered all over the place.”

Police appealed for anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area to get in touch.

Pinkey added: “David was last seen alive at 8.15am on Tuesday, prior to officers finding his body at 130pm on Thursday.

“Anyone with information as to his movements between this time period is urged to come forward.

“Anyone who has seen any suspicious activity within the Broadlee Bank area between

Tuesday and Thursday should also contact us immediately.”