A BUILDER has been found dead after falling through a roof in Bury.

Michael McAiney, aged 61, was working for a furniture company in Foundry Street when he died.

Police were called to Furniture Arena last Thursday evening after the man’s family reported him missing from his Oldham home.

When the father-of-two failed to answer calls to his mobile phone that afternoon, his concerned wife and daughter contacted the owner of the firm and asked him to check the building.

He discovered Mr McAiney’s van and ladders against the side of the building and, knowing his had been working alone, alerted police.

Officers found the body of semi-retired Mr McAiney in a ground floor room.

He had tumbled nine feet into the building through the roof and it is believed he could have suffered a heart attack which caused the fall.

Wife Evelyn, aged 41, of Harewood Drive, Royton, described her husband as a ”natural comedian and a “good character.”

She said: “I gave him a big hug when he left home on Thursday morning, I combed his hair, and he told me had put three jumpers on to keep warm.

“When he didn’t answer my calls and didn’t ring back I knew something was wrong. He always rang me back.”

Mr McAiney started his own building firm 30 years ago, and was well known in Oldham, where he spent all his working life.

Mrs McAiney added: “Mike worked very hard, and was a devoted, loving granddad, father and husband. He lived his life for his family, he worshipped us.”

Among those left behind are two children, Sharon, who is married to Graham, and Liz, who is married to Sam, as well as grandchildren Bethaney, Francesca, Zara and Lexa.

A post mortem examination was due to be carried out on Tuesday to discover the cause of death, and an inquest will be opened later this week.

The Health and Safety Executive have been informed.