POLICE tonight confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of a young woman from a gunshot wound.

The 26-year-old from the historic market town of Middleham, near Leyburn, North Yorkshire, died on Tuesday night.

It is understood the woman was discovered by her partner in the cottage they shared together behind the Black Bull pub.

Police were called to the property by the ambulance service at 10.25pm.

In a statement released tonight, a spokeswoman for North Yorkshire Police said: "A post mortem has been carried out today. The woman died of shotgun injuries.

"Police can confirm there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death and we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

"We are not yet in a position to identify the woman."