Police investigating the death of a woman found in the canal at Kildwick have confirmed they don’t believe there are any suspicious circumstances.

Sandrea Pilkington, 70, went missing from her Ramsbottom home at 11.45pm on February 16, sparking a major police hunt.

Police were so concerned about her out-of-character disappearance, they called on the services of volunteers from Bolton Mountain Rescue.

But the search was called off after a woman’s body was pulled from the Leeds-Liverpool Canal last Tuesday morning.

Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene.

Detective Superintendent Dai Malyn, who is leading the investigation, said: “There does not appear to be any other person involved in the death of Mrs Pilkington.

“Whether she took her own life or accidentally fell into the canal, still remain lines of enquiries on behalf of the coroner.”

Police say a woman matching her description was spotted in Kildwick on the Monday morning, and spent time in a local pub in the afternoon. She was also spotted near the canal at 11.30pm. Anyone with information should contact police on 101, quoting reference number 12140026881.