Police have launched a murder investigation after a woman’s body was found inside a property in Church.
Officers were called to a ground-floor flat in Walmsley Close at around 12.30pm on Tuesday, January 14, following a concern for welfare call.
Police found a woman in her 50s dead at the scene.
Her death is being treated as suspicious and her family are being supported by specially-trained officers.
The scene is in Walmsley Close (Image: NQ Staff) A Home Office post-mortem examination has established the woman’s cause of death to be stab wounds.
A 52-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody at this time.
This is being treated as an isolated incident and there is no perceived wider threat to the public, Lancashire Police said.
Rubbish and items piled up outside the property (Image: NQ Staff) The force has increased reassurance patrols in the area as a precaution.
Detectives are now asking anyone who saw, heard or captured on camera anything suspicious in the area between Friday, January 3, and 12.25pm on Tuesday, January 14, to contact the police as soon as possible.
Neighbours living in and around the area said the victim, whose identity has not yet been made public, was a “quiet lady who kept herself to herself”.
They also expressed shock at what had happened, with one man, who asked not to be named, saying it was “not the sort of thing you’d expect in this area”.
A police cordon is in place around the property, which can be seen to have a large pile of items and rubbish left outside it.
DCI Andy Fallows, from Lancashire Police’s Force Major Investigation Team, said: “A woman has died as a result of a significant assault and my thoughts are very much with her loved ones.
A woman has been arrested and is being questioned by police (Image: NQ Staff) “Although we have made an arrest our enquiries are very much ongoing.
“I would ask anyone with information which could assist the investigation team to get in touch as soon as they can.”
Anyone with information is asked to call 101, quoting log number 0512 of January 14.
Information can also be passed to independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555111.