A PENSIONER has described the moment she called emergency services after spotting a lifeless man lying "totally naked" on her street in the early hours.

The grim discovery was made by 78-year-old Lilian Clarke who woke up after hearing noises near her home.

Mrs Clarke called police to Saffron Drive, Allerton, Bradford, at 4.25am on Monday after finding the man in the road near a bus stop.

Emergency services attended and the man, believed to be in his 20s or 30s, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The pensioner, who first mistook the body for a piece of cardboard flapping around, said the body was on its side with one arm outstretched - and completely naked. 

Mrs Clarke, who has lived on the street for 30 years, said: "It’s tragic for his family. I’ve got a son of my own and a grandson.

"The ambulance didn't stay long. Then everybody arrived: different police cars, PCSOs and they've done different shifts all day."

VIDEO: Man found dead in Bradford street

"When the policewoman arrived I offered to see if I could identify him as I know a lot of people around here but she said ‘no’."

Mrs Clarke said the man, who had "black hair", did not live nearby and she had been told he was from the BD8 area.

RELATED: 

She said she had been standing on the street with a neighbour this afternoon when two young men who looked "worried" approached her.

The pair said they were friends with the man, who has not yet been named, having spent time with him the night before.

Mrs Clarke said: "They came and they asked permission to come in the house and talk to us. He thanked me. I told them everything. They were very nice lads."

A large cordon was set up in the street between Sonning Road and Leyden Rise, and a tent put up around the man’s body while forensics officers from the force’s crime scene investigation team carried out enquiries.

Officers had to anchor the tent to the ground using a battering ram and by holding it down, as the wind picked up.

A police spokesperson said: “At 4.25am police received a report of a man lying in the road in Saffron Drive, Bradford.
“Emergency services attended and the man was pronounced dead at the scene.”

Police said no arrests had been made and no further information was to be released.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police by calling 101, quoting log 180 of Monday, July 1, or using the live chat facility on the West Yorkshire Police website.

Information can also be passed anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.