DETECTIVES have arrested a pensioner after a 43-year-old man was found dead in his own home.

The death of Jeffrey Ault, at the house in London Road, Newcastle, is being described as "unexplained".

Emergency services were called out to the property at about 9.10pm on Thursday, but paramedics were unable to save his life and Mr Ault was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police cordoned off the area while forensics officers carried out a detailed search of the property.

By yesterday afternoon the cordon had been taken away, but PCSOs remained posted outside the house.

Hairdresser Becky Hemmings, aged 29, of Newcastle, was working upstairs at 74 London Road Salon, which is next door to the property, shortly before police arrived on Thursday night.

She said: "I heard a lot of banging and arguing, but that happens quite a lot. I heard someone shouting, 'I will kill you', and 'where have you had it from'.

"It must have been after 8pm, because the Stoke match had finished. I had finished work and turned a CD player off and that's when I heard the noises.

"I feel horrible, because I said to my boyfriend, 'should I call the police?'.

"We heard arguments every week, but it seemed a bit worse than normal."

Hairdresser Kelly Liversage, aged 36, of Lower Hatton, who also works at 74 London Road Salon, said: "The police were here when I arrived in the morning. At first I thought it was about parking, but then I saw forensics officers and realised something must have happened."

According to neighbours, Mr Ault lived in London Road with his parents, Phillip and Maureen Ault.

Taneth Hollins, aged 24, of Stubbs' Gate, said: "I think it's tragic. I feel sorry for the family and friends that have got to go through this now."

Katie Stanley, aged 24, also of Stubbs' Gate, said: "It's scary to think that something like this could happen just a few doors away and we didn't know what was going on. It's horrible."

A spokesman for Staffordshire Police said: "The death is being treated as unexplained.

"A 68-year-old man arrested in connection with the incident has been bailed, pending further inquiries, to a later date.

"The property was cordoned off so a forensic examination could take place."

A post mortem examination proved inconclusive. Further tests will be done to establish the cause of Mr Ault's death.

West Midlands Ambulance Service sent an ambulance, rapid response vehicle and a paramedic area support officer to the scene.

A spokesman said: "Crews provided emergency medical treatment to a man found at the scene. Unfortunately, despite best efforts, nothing could be done to save the man and he was confirmed deceased at the scene."

Jeffrey Ault was well know to police and had previously appeared before the courts on a number of different charges, including common assault, being drunk and disorderly and indecent exposure.