Community in shock after former builder, 79, killed as 'home improvement project' turns into tragedy

A pensioner at the centre of a tragedy in Salford died while taking on a home improvement project involving a gas appliance, the Manchester Evening News understands. Roger Snelham was tragically found dead at his home on Seddon Street, in Little Hulton, on Thursday afternoon (January 2).

Neighbours were evacuated from their homes as police, firefighters, paramedics and gas safety engineers all descended on the street. Mr Snelham is believed to have been installing an appliance at his home when tragedy struck.

An investigation into the exact cause of his death is ongoing. Forensics officers, detectives and workers from Cadent Gas were all in attendance at the scene today (January 3).

Police have appealed to find the 79-year-old's next of kin following his death. Neighbours told the M.E.N. Mr Snelham had worked as a builder and regularly carried out home improvement projects, with scaffolding erected outside his home for 'years'.

Alma, a neighbour of Mr Snelham's, told the M.E.N.: "I've lived on this street for 60 years, I knew Roger well. He moved in in the 1980s and ever since he's had scaffolding round the house and was constantly adding things to it. But he never finished it.

"Adding en-suites and everything and extensions - but it was just him living there, so who was it for? I used to go round for cups of coffee with him, and when I saw him in the garden, I'd say hello, 'cause he was on his own. It's a real shame what's happened. To have found him like that is horrible."

Other neighbours described Mr Snelham as a 'quiet' man who 'kept himself to himself'. One man, who lived close to him for 10 years, said: "There's always been scaffolding up... he'd start something and then stop half way through and start something