A MURDER investigation has been launched after the body of a 35-year-old woman was found in a flat in Accrington.

Detectives said they were treating the death of the woman, named locally as Stacey Bleasdale, as ‘unexplained’.

Miss Bleasdale’s body was found in the flat in Richmond Street at 7.50am on Sunday.

A 36-year-old local man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder and has been bailed pending further enquiries.

Police said a post mortem examination proved inconclusive and they were continuing investigations to establish how Miss Bleasdale died.

Police were stationed outside the flat on Sunday and officers were continuing to guard the scene yesterday.

Neighbours have been left shocked by the news of Miss Bleasdale’s death describing her as a quiet lady ‘who kept herself to herself’.

It is understood that she had also previously been supported by the Maundy Relief scheme.

One resident said: “There was quite a lot of activity on Sunday and people in white suits. And there’s a guard outside.

“I only saw her last week. She walked past my house and said hello and I said hello back. She loved being there with her boyfriend and they both kept themselves to themselves.

“I’m surprised by this, but I wouldn’t say I’m shocked. It’s not the kind of thing that happens every day. But it’s not as close a community as it was 20 or 30 years ago.”

Another neighbour said: “It’s shocking. I’ve lived here over 20 years and nothing like this has ever happened before. It’s a quiet street normally.

“She seemed to be quite private. I have never seen her speaking to anybody on the street. All I know is she lived there with her boyfriend. They were only here about two to three months.”

A police spokeswoman said: “Detectives are investigating the unexplained death of a woman in Accrington.

“Officers were called at around 7.50am on November 15 by the Ambulance Service to an address on Richmond Street after a 35-year-old woman had been found deceased inside.

“The death is being treated as unexplained and we are working to establish the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death.

“Post mortem examination results were inconclusive and enquiries are on-going.

“A 36-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder and has been bailed pending further enquiries until 14th December.”