Trevor Cutler, 68, of Eastfield Crescent, Finedon, alerted police after seeing the maggots on his floor yesterday.

The police broke into another flat in the building and found the body.

A spokesman said: "We can confirm we were alerted to the body of a man in Finedon. The death is not being treated as suspicious so all we will be doing is preparing a report for the coroner."

Mr Cutler said: "The first I knew something was wrong was when I heard the sound of something dropping.

"I heard it on Tuesday night, but didn't know what it was. Then on Wednesday, when I was sitting watching television, I heard it again.

"I went over to the corner of my room and noticed maggots over the stereo, on the unit and on the floor.

"They were coming from the ceiling and dropping down."

Mr Cutler, who has lived in the flat for 15 months, said although he would regularly see his elderly neighbour walking around the area he didn't know him.

Mr Cutler said: "I hadn't seen him for about two weeks, I've no idea how long he must have been there. It's terrible to think he could have been there dead for that long."

Mr Cutler lives in a semi-detached house which has been converted into four flats. The dead man was found in one of the first floor flats.

Mr Cutler said he was disappointed with the way in which Wellingborough Homes, from which he rents his home, had dealt with the situation.

He said: "I called them and explained about the problem with the maggots.

"My house is going to need fumigating and I didn't want to say here overnight but unfortunately I had to as they wouldn't do anything.

"I've only just heard second-hand from the lad who lives upstairs that they are planning to fumigate today but they've said nothing to me. I have been unable to get to sleep at all.

No-one from Wellingborough Homes was available to comment.