A WOMAN is believed to have lain dead in her back garden for more than 24 hours before neighbours discovered her body.

Police were called at 11.20pm to reports of an unconscious woman who was not breathing at a terrace house in Halvard Avenue, Walshaw.

Officers who attended found the body of a 68-year-old woman who lived on her own.

It is understood neighbours climbed over the garden fence where they discovered her body, but it is understood she died on Saturday morning.

A neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I know it was only the woman living there in recent years, but I’ve known of the family for a long time.

“I knew of her lads when they were growing up so this has come as quite a shock.

“It’s usually quiet around here so it’s rare to see police in the street.”

There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death and a file is being prepared for the coroner.

Firefighters from Bury were called out under the protocol with North West Ambulance Service that sees both services dispatched to so-called Red 1 life-threatening emergencies, and whoever reaches the scene first carries out CPR.

The firefighters provided floodlighting to enable paramedics and police to carry out their work.