MYSTERY surrounds the circumstances leading to the death of an elderly woman who was found collapsed beneath a car in Stretford.

Police have ruled out suspicious circumstances and it’s understood that the 76-year-old was not injured by the vehicle she was found beneath.

But nearby residents reacted with shock to the incident and questions remain over how the woman came to be beneath the vehicle.

It’s understood that her body was spotted by a dog walker on Saturday morning, January 24 and 999 was called.

Freda Owen, of the adjoining Thirlmere Road, said: “The police told me she had been wandering around Thirlmere Road at midnight and been found under the car.

“It’s a horrible thing to have happened. I had a husband the same age and it’s not nice to think of it.”

A neighbour, who declined to be named, added: “I saw the police car. It’s quite shocking really. You don’t expect that kind of thing.

“You wonder how she got there. I hope her family are OK.”

A spokesman for the North West Ambulance Service said: “We took the call at 10.12am and arrived at 10.20am.

“On scene there was an ambulance, rapid response vehicle and a community first responder.

“We were called to Coniston Road and took the patient to Manchester Royal Infirmary.

“The patient had taken ill, and that’s the reason she was taken to hospital.”

A police cordon was put in place until late on Saturday while detectives and forensic experts scoured the scene.

House to house enquiries were made by officers to ascertain details.

The following day, a police spokesman confirmed: “The 76-year-old woman found dead under a car in Coniston Road, Stretford yesterday has been identified.

“Next of kin are aware and there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death.

“A file has now been prepared for the coroner.”

As of Wednesday, January 28, South Manchester Coroner’s Court were yet to open and adjourn the inquest into the woman’s death, and her name has not yet been disclosed.