AN ELDERLY woman has been killed in her home.

The pensioner's body was found lying against the kitchen door of her bungalow in Widnes.

The alarm was raised by members of the 71-year-old 's family who thought she may have suffered a heart attack when they called to see her.

When they were unable to get in to the woman firefighters were called to force an entry.

An investigation by murder squad detectives was launched shortly afterwards.

The grim discovery was made at the bungalow in Baguley Avenue at 12.45pm yesterday (Tuesday, December 9).

Police officers cordoned off the street and a team of forensic officers was immediately brought in to preserve the scene.

A post mortem was being carried out today and part of the road was still sealed off as further enquiries were carried out.

A spokeswoman for Cheshire police said: "We are treating this as a suspicious death.

"We are waiting for the results of a post mortem to discover how this lady died."

Sub Officer Martin Walsh, who discovered the woman's body, said: "We were called to the house at 12.50pm by paramedics who asked us to force an entry.

"They were unable to gain access to a patient and asked us to help them get into the kitchen.

"We arrived at the house before them and found the kitchen door slightly open with the woman's body lying across it.

"When we had pushed it open, I sent one fire officer in first to check for vital signs of life but it was clear the lady was dead and that there were circumstances beyond our realm.

"We called the police."

A spokesman for Merseyside ambulance added: "We were called to what was described as a possible cardiac arrest.

"But the police are now treating it as suspicious."

Katherine Winkler, a neighbour, said: "Everyone on the street is really shocked by what has happened.

"It is such a quiet street and this is really awful. The lady lived on her own and was quite frail.

"She used to have a lovely little dog and we would sometimes see her walking the dog to the shops and back. It is horrible to think she has been killed."

Anybody with information is asked to contact Halton CID on 01244350000.