People living on a quiet residential street were in shock today after one of their neighbours was arrested on suspicion of murder.
Emergency services were called to a house in Birch Grove, Ashton-in-Makerfield, in the early hours of yesterday morning.
On arrival, they found the body of a 33-year-old woman.
A 31-year-old man, of Ashton-in-Makerfield, was arrested on suspicion of murder and taken to a police station on Merseyside to be quizzed by officers.
This afternoon, the semi-detached house at the centre of the incident remained cordoned off while forensics officers continued their investigations.
Behind the cordon was a blue van bearing the livery of Ingham Plastering, and a white Vauxhall Grandland X hybrid.
The street has a mixed residential use and also contains a number of bungalows used as sheltered housing for the elderly.
One resident said: "It's quite shocking. You don't expect it round here, it's quite quiet.
"I didn't know them as they hadn't been here long.
"It's very sad, it's terrible.
"He was always at work and would go out early in his van.
"I would see her going in and out in her car.
"The thought of what's happened is sad. They were only young."
Another said: "I passed her in the street a few times and she smiled once, that's the only contact I ever had.
"They had only been living there for a few months. I've no idea if they were married. They kept themselves to themselves.
"I saw him coming and going in his van. There was never any trouble or anything like that."
The woman has been formally identified and her next of kin informed.
Currently, the tragedy is being treated as "unexplained."
Anyone with information is asked to contact Merseyside Police social media desk via Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook Merseyside Police CC.
You can also call 101 quoting incident reference 20000135642 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their online form here.
