AN INQUEST into the death of an 86-year-old woman found frozen at the bottom of a steep country track with her dead husband nearby has been opened.

Nancy Hornby, 86, and her husband Derek Hornby, aged 87, of Knights Meadow, Winsford, are believed to have driven down a bridleway and got trapped in a field, just minutes walk from the safety of nearby farms.

Their bodies were found by a walker on Friday afternoon, two days after they were last seen refuelling their town car at a petrol station in Frodsham.

Nancy Hornby was found near to the car – which had no fuel and a dead battery when it was recovered – while her busband Derek was found a short distance away.

Cheshire Constabulary spokeswoman Jacqui Hanson said: “The inquest was opened and adjourned on 15 December, into the death of Nancy Hornby, 86, of Knights Meadow, Winsford.

“A post mortem to confirm her cause of death was inconclusive, and the results of further toxicology tests are required.

“Nancy's body was found shortly before 2.30pm. on the afternoon of Friday 10 December 2010 at a remote location near Frodsham.

“The body of her husband Derek Hornby, 87 years of age, was found nearby.

“A post mortem confirmed his cause of death was natural causes, and there will be no inquest.

“The deaths are not being treated as suspicious, and a file is being prepared for the coroner.”

The bodies were found on a public bridleway on land near Aston Grange Farm owned by Stephen Shaw, who described the incident as ‘a tragedy’.

He said: “I was shocked this has happened, it is very sad. The bodies were found by a walker on what is a track rather than a road. They had gone down to the field at the bottom but could not get back up.”

David Ainsworth, warden of St Peter’s Church, Aston Lane, said: “The couple had taken a wrong turn and got lost. The man had gone for help and couldn’t get back to whoever was in the car, and they’d frozen to death.

“In that particular area people wouldn’t go walking down there on a regular basis.

“The helicopter had been searching there for several days.”