POLICE say the death of a woman whose body was found at her home is not being treated as suspicious.

The 62-year-old was discovered by her sister in Warwick Square, on Darlington's Branksome estate, yesterday.

The sister had become concerned after being unable to contact her and asked a neighbour for assistance.

The pair broke into the house and found the woman's body in her bedroom.

A spokesman for Darlington Memorial Hospital said a post-mortem examination would be carried out today to establish the cause of death.

But a police spokesman said last night: "The death is not being treated as suspicious. An inquest will open in due course once the coroner has been informed."

The woman, who has not been named by police, is thought to have lived alone.