A man found dead in his flat after failing to turn up for work has been named locally.

Ipswich Star: A body has been found in a flat in The Street in Bramford.A body has been found in a flat in The Street in Bramford.

Peter Welsh was found by police at his home in Bramford yesterday after being called by concerned colleagues.

Mr Welsh, thought to be in his mid-50s, was a taxi driver in Ipswich and well known in Bramford. His death is currently being treated as unexplained.

David Roberts-Welsh, Mr Welsh’s stepson, said family members were still trying to find out exactly what had happened.

“The first I knew was yesterday when I turned up here and found all the police outside,” he said. “By chance I was coming to the Co-op.

Ipswich Star: A body has been found in a flat in The Street in Bramford.A body has been found in a flat in The Street in Bramford.

“He was a cheery person, placid, soft. He was well loved by everyone around Bramford, a well-known taxi driver for Ipswich.

“He got on with anyone, he’d always buy you a pint. He was very likeable, talk to anyone in the Bramford Cock and they’ll tell you how he was.”

Mr Roberts-Welsh, who left flowers near Mr Welsh’s flat in The Street, said the family was still coming to terms with the death.

Officers arrived at the flat around 9.45am on April 28 to check on Mr Welsh but no one answered the door.

They then saw his body through a window and forced their way into the property, but Mr Welsh was pronounced dead at the scene.

Flowers and messages of condolence were left near the flat by friends, family and staff at the nearby Co-Op.

A police team was also seen searching under cars and at the front of properties along The Street. A Suffolk Constabulary spokesman said this was a routine procedure.

There will be a post mortem examination.

Officers are asking anyone who may have seen anything in the area between Wednesday night and yesterday morning, Thursday, April 28, to call Suffolk police on 101 quoting CAD 88 of April 28.