DETECTIVES have launched an investigation after a man was found dead at Birkby today.

They are investigating the death of a man found lying in a garden this morning.

The body was spotted on the small lawn of the house in Macaulay Road, Birkby, at 8.15am.

Police immediately cordoned off the normally quiet residential street, adjoining the Birkby Post Office and close to the sprawling Weir Valves and Controls plant, the former Hopkinsons works.

Shocked neighbours woke up to the news this morning as lines of blue and white police tape were hastily erected around the house and street.

Police began carrying out door-to-door inquiries as senior officers arrived, and are not treating the death as suspicious.

The cause of death of the man, who was thought to be in his 30s, is not yet known, but it is believed he had head injuries.

The alarm was raised by Birkby Post Office owner Asif Ali as he opened up the premises at 8.15am.

Mr Ali owns the house which is attached to the Post Office and said the man was his tenant.

"First thing when we opened up, we just saw him. What a terrible way to start the day.

"It is a very calm and friendly area. It's quiet and we don't have any bother."

Householder Mohammed Iqbal, 37, was stunned.

He said: "It's a quiet street, or at least it normally is. I know everybody around here.

"I can let my kids play out until 10 o'clock.

"But at this rate, Birkby's not going to be safe any more."

One woman, who has lived on the road for 15 years, woke up to find herself inside the police cordon.

"I have just woken up to find the tape," she reported.

She had never experienced any bother before and heard no commotion either last night or this morning.