A POST-MORTEM examination was carried out on a woman found dead at her Chorley home after police described her death as 'suspicious'.

Ann Cottam, also known by her married name Rushden, of Shaw Hill Street, is believed to have been discovered by her son after he arrived to walk her dog. Police immediately cordoned off the house and officers guarded the front and back doors until the examination at which it was concluded her death was not suspicious.

Floral tributes were left at the foot of her front door by grieving relatives.

Police have not yet revealed the cause of her death as her body has not been formally identified.

It is believed Ann, 52, was mother to six children. The youngest is just 15-years-old. She had a security camera and light attached to the front of her semi-detached home which she apparently had installed after problems with local children.

Neighbours described Ann as a quiet woman. One said: "I saw her on Saturday night and she didn't look too good at all."

Another acquaintance said: "She has lived here for a number of years, but no-one around here seemed to know her very well, she kept herself to herself.

A police spokesman said: "A post-mortem examination was carried out by Dr Alison Armour. The results indicated that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding this woman's death."