A 71-year-old man in Germany lived for about a year with the decomposing body of his wife until neighbours reported the stench from their apartment to authorities, police said overnight.

Officers called to the flat in Dresden, in eastern Germany, found the mummified body of the 75-year-old woman, who had apparently died of natural causes, lying in the couple's bed.

 

Police said they had no reason to suspect foul play.