'JUST A NICE NORMAL GUY' Man quizzed over killing of Peter.

Byline: By SAM CASEY News Reporter

A 65-YEAR-OLD whose death sparked a murder hunt was "a quiet man".

Police have not yet officially named the victim found dead from multiple injuries at a house in Skelmanthorpe in the early hours of Sunday morning.

But he was named locally as Peter Green who lived in the village.

His body was discovered at a house on Lidgett Lane at 5.20am on Sunday - and police arrested a 24-year-old man on suspicion of murder. He was still being held in police custody today and being questioned by detectives from West Yorkshire Police's Homicide And Major Enquiry Team.

He has not been named.

Neighbours said Mr Green lived at another house in the village.

He was a car enthusiast who tinkered with vehicles in a workshop off Commercial Road, the mainstreet through Skelmanthorpe.

Yesterday the quiet village community was still reeling from the weekend's events as police stood watch at the Lidgett Lane address.

Clr John Cook, whose Denby Dale ward includes Skelmanthorpe, knew Mr Green all his life from when he grew up in Lower Denby.

He said he was a quiet man who had been keen on sports cars when he was a young man.

He added: "I only saw him on Friday, at the funeral of former councillor John Netherwood.

"I was shocked to hear about this incident and doubly shocked to find out it was someone I knew."

Fellow councillor Jim Dodds added: "I was informed about the incident on Sunday morning and I was truly shocked that this sort of thing could happen in my ward.

"It's a sad reflection of the way society seems to be going.

"I know quite a few people who live on Lidgett Lane, although I did not know Peter Green.

"It's a terrible state of affairs, but I think we have to have confidence in the way police have dealt with this quickly."

Officers were called to the stone-built terrace on Lidgett Lane at about 5.20am on Sunday where they found Mr Green.

They cordoned off the street while forensic experts carried out a detailed search of the house.

Neighbour William Alderson, 88, who has lived on Lidgett Lane for more than 50 years, said a woman who lived in the house had been there for several years.

He said: "We used to chat over the garden wall, but she kept herself to herself. Her son laid my garden path for me.

"Peter would come and go from time to time. We used to say 'hello' to each other, but not a lot more than that.

"It's a big shock. This is such a quiet area and everyone is friendly.

You don't expect something like this to happen around here."

Valerie Roome, who lives on nearby Westfield Drive, knew Mr Green from when they attended school together.

She said he was a regular at the Grove Inn pub on Station Road.

"It's a terrible shock," she said. "I used to go to Scissett Middle School with him.He was a nice guy, quite quiet.

"I only saw him last Thursday in the village. It's very sad."

Clr Elaine Ward, who lives in Skelmanthorpe, said: "It's a tragedy, something you never expect to happen and hope never will."

Anyone with information should call West Yorkshire Police's Homicide and Major Enquiry Team on 0845 6060606.

CAPTION(S):

INVESTIGATION: Police at the crime scene in Lidgett Lane; PROBE: Investigations are carried out after the discovery of a 65-year-old's body