SHOCKED neighbours of a Silsden pensioner found on a yacht with £100 million of cocaine have described him as an unassuming character with a friendly smile.

Pensioner John Powell lived an apparently quiet life for several years at 10 Airedale Mews, a smart collection of modern homes in cul-de-sacs tucked behind the town centre.

He drove a modest silver E-class Mercedes and lived in a three storey terraced property with a prominent "No Cold Callers" sign on the glass panel of its front door.

The small back garden is filled by twin 12ft x 6ft apex-roofed wooden sheds, leaving very little room for the black and white Staffordshire bull terrier at the address.

But the dog was let out of the front door by a well-dressed silver haired woman who arrived with full shopping bags on Tuesday morning.

She unlocked the door and went quickly inside after refusing to comment on the recent raid on the property by members of the National Crime Agency, backed up by West Yorkshire Police.

Overnight on September 23, raids were carried out on different properties in connection to the seizure of the yacht in the Irish sea and its record-breaking cargo of cocaine.

Mr Powell's son, Stephen was arrested in Leeds and later gave his Netherfield Road, Guiseley.

Knowledgeable locals said they were unaware of someone of that name in the street.

Stephen Powell, 47 is believed to have gone to Addingham Middle School and then Ilkley Grammar School before leaving to work in a fish and chip shop in New Brook Street, Ilkley.

He is then thought to have worked as a mechanic, at a fibre glass works in Keighley and then had a fruit and vegetable business before "going travelling”.

In Airedale Mews, Mr Powell Snr was described as an average, "unflashy" character.

"I didn't know him other than to say the usual neighbour things like "nice day we're having" but he was always smiling and friendly," said one resident who asked not to be named.

"It wasn't as if there were fancy cars pulling up there day and night. It was a very quiet house," said another resident.

"No-one can believe what's happened - it's sort of thing you expect in Bradford, but not Silsden," she said.