THE death of a 55-year-old man found in a Banbury home yesterday is no longer being treated as suspicious.

Thames Valley Police said the change was in response to a Home Office post-mortem examination carried out today.

As a result detectives have released a 63-year-old man who was being questioned on suspicion of murder.

The force said no further action would be taken against him but it would continue its investigation into the death.

A scene watch in place since yesterday in Causeway, Banbury, has also been lifted.

Det Insp Steve Raffield said: "As a result of the post-mortem examination we are no longer treating the man’s death as suspicious however the force will continue to investigate the circumstances on behalf of the coroner.

"I would like to thank the community for their understanding while officers have been in the area conducting enquiries.

"Our thoughts remain with the family of the man who has died at this extremely difficult time."

Residents in the Causeway woke to find police outside their homes after the grim discovery was made at about 8am.

Forensic teams were seen carrying out investigations as officers attempted to gather clues as to what had happened.

A neighbour, who lives in the same road and wanted to stay anonymous, said the man had only lived on the road for the past six months.

He said: "I didn’t know him very well because he hasn’t been around here for long but all I know is that people called him ‘Compo’ as in the character from Last of the Summer Wine.

"His friends were always coming and going on the road and he must have been in his late 60s.

"The incident hasn’t scared me but I did see a man taken away in a police van this morning."

Officers remained in the road all day to reassure residents, who had been left shocked by what happened, while the house involved had blue tarpaulin over the front door.

Ali Karin, who works at Banbury Station Taxis in the adjacent Merton Street, said: "It is very shocking to hear and quite out of character for the area.

"You don’t get that sort of thing around here, it is normally quite homely and quiet."

Banbury Town Mayor Gordon Ross said the incident was "very sad news" for the town.

Thames Valley Police spokeswoman Hannah Jones said police were called to the house at about 8am to reports that a man had been injured.

But she did not confirm whether the man lived at the address and said the investigation was still at an early stage.

The man's next of kin have been informed.

Call 101 with any information.