An 88-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of a woman in her 80s has been detained under the Mental Health Act.
It follows an assessment by specialist medical staff, GMP said.
Police were called by paramedics to a home on Ramsay Avenue in Farnworth, at 8.10am on Wednesday.
They discovered Barbara Haywood, a retired nurse, dead.
A police officer stood guard outside the home while forensic officers inspected the property.
A GMP spokeswoman said: "Officers are continuing to support the woman’s family at this devastating time."
Joyce Newsham paid tribute to her friend Barbara, who she knew for more than 30 years on Wednesday.
She said: “She was a nice lady. I cleaned for her. She’d do anything for anybody. When my daughter came round, she gave her custard and rice pudding, she was very generous.
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“She was a sister at a hospital. She’s been in a wheelchair for 31 years. I just can’t believe it.
“A lot of people are very shocked because they all knew her.
"She was good-hearted."
Another neighbour said: "She’d always have a smile on her face, she’d sit in the garden in the sun until fairly recently."
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