A MAJOR investigation was launched today after a 73-year-old spinster was found dead in a ditch nine hours after disappearing from her home.

Alice Martha Doody, who was suffering from a medical condition, is believed to have left food cooking in the oven when she apparently went out to walk her dog, Honey, last night.

Neighbours raised the alarm at 9.30pm when they noticed the pet wandering alone and saw that the front door of her first floor flat in Ribble Avenue was open.

Police and the Bolton Mountain Rescue team were called out and were joined by relatives as they spent the night searching surrounding fields, farms, Darwen Golf Course and Sunnyhurst Woods.

Alice's body was found on waste land off Hyndburn Drive, just yards from her home, at 6.35am.

Police originally thought Miss Doody could have collapsed during the walk but later said they were not ruling out foul play. A post mortem examination was due to be carried out today and the coroner has been informed.

Richard Harrison, who lives next door to Miss Doody, and often cooked meals for her, described her as a "lovely lady".

He added: "She was a spinster and had looked after her mother most of her life. Honey became her main companion.

"She had been getting forgetful and had locked herself out a few times but it wasn't unusual for her to take the dog out at strange times and in bad weather.

"I know Social Services were keeping an eye on her."

Inspector Stuart Coates of Darwen police said: "Miss Doody did have a medical condition and would not normally venture far from home.

"However, she had become a little vague and confused lately and may have walked further afield."

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