TRIBUTES have been paid to a “sensitive, trusting” pensioner who died in a house fire.

Albert Williams, 68, died in a fire at his flat in Cedar Close, Southend.

Mr Williams, whose death is not being treated as suspicious, was reclusive, but neighbours have described him as helpful and always ready to lend a hand.

Former RAF logistics officer Brian Wallis, 71, who lived two doors down from Mr Williams, said: “He was a very sensitive man. He was a very trusting man.

“He was a good friend to me and I shall miss him.

“He was bit different from other people and because of that difference he would find it difficult to be a part of things.

“But he valued anybody who was prepared to give him time.”

Mr Williams’s ground floor flat was not severely damaged by fire and his upstairs neighbour, Terence Handelaar, 75, was unaware of any flames.

He was a smoker and neighbours speculated he may have been overcome by fumes from a smaller, slowburning fire.

Mr Williams grew up in the East End of London and worked as a gardener for the Greater London Council’s parks department.

He created flower displays and potted hanging baskets for the row of four flats where he lived.

Mr Williams, Mr Wallis, Mr Handelaar and a fourth neighbour, known locally as “the Four Widowers”, won a bronze medal for their shared rear garden in the Southend in Bloom competition last year, for which Mr Williams did much of the heavy work.

The foursome would go on day trips to London and Mr Williams especially enjoyed seeing the Olympic Park redevelopment of Stratford.

Mr Wallis, who volunteers for a number of charities and community organisations, including Mesothelioma UK, said Mr Williams would help with loading and unloading and help man a stall at the Southend Air Show.

He loved Seventies sit coms and British comedy films, especially Last of the Summer Wine and the Carry On films.

A police spokesman said: “Police were called by the fire service at just after 4.30pm on Saturday, August 8, to a flat fire in Cedar Road, Southend, following reports of a fatality. The fire is not believed to be spicious.”