A PENSIONER may have lain dead and undetected for up to a week after a discarded cigarette sparked a flat fire.

The woman, named as Brenda Hilton, was found in her smoke-filled home in Devoke Avenue, Walkden, at around 4pm on Saturday by a neighbour.

Detectives launched an investigation into Miss Hilton's death but today ruled out any foul play. Detective Chief Inspector Ian Hilton, of Swinton Police, said: "We are now happy that in relation to this lady's death there were no suspicious circumstances.

"This follows a detailed investigation involving Home Office pathologists and forensic scientists.

"But we would appeal for any relatives of this lady to contact us as soon as possible."

Her body was found in the bedroom of her ground floor council flat after leaflet droppers told a neighbour her door was ajar and there was a smell of smoke.

It is understood a discarded cigarette was found on a bedside table and it is believed this had caused a slow-burning fire.

A post-mortem examination revealed the woman, who was aged in her late 60s, had died as a result of smoke inhalation.

Neighbours said they believed Miss Hilton had been dead for a week as the windows to her flat had been blackened with soot.

But they had not realised there had been a fire and thought she had blocked the windows deliberately to stop people looking in.

Her next door neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: "Brenda was a very independent old lady who kept herself to herself.

"You could go for weeks without seeing her though and we thought nothing of it this week. We are all devastated that she has died."

A Greater Manchester Fire Service spokesman said that the fire "may have originated several days before" the body was found.

She added that Miss Hilton had lived in the flat for several years looking after her mother until her death a few years ago.

Her brother and sister had died and she did not know of any other relatives.

He added: "It was noted during the investigation that the property did not have a smoke alarm which may have alerted neighbours or people passing by resulting in an earlier call to the fire service and a possible successful rescue."

Anyone related to Miss Hilton should contact Swinton Police on 0161 856 5037. OAP may have been dead for a week