A 93-YEAR-OLD man found stabbed yards from his home inflicted the fatal wound on himself, police said yesterday.

The body of Albert Taylor was found by an old friend and neighbour on the common at the front of his house on Longridge, in Knutsford, Cheshire, shortly after 8.30am yesterday.

Jim Comley, 76, who has known Mr Taylor for 37 years, said that the pensioner was curled up, his hands covered in blood.

He died from a single, self-inflicted stab wound, the post-mortem results showed.

A Cheshire Police spokeswoman said: “The cause of death can now be confirmed as a fatal incision. From the findings of the Home Office pathologist, police are satisfied there is no evidence of an attack by a third party, and the matter has now been placed in the hands of the coroner.”

Police would not commit themselves to calling Mr Taylor’s death suicide.