A WOMAN was discovered dead in her kitchen after her window cleaner became concerned by the number of flies inside her home.

An inquest into the death of Angela Thompson heard how the 40-year-old woman had not been seen by her neighbours for several weeks before she was discovered.

The Burnley woman, who lived alone, was found on October 24 inside her home on Brownhill Avenue.

Area coroner for East Lancashire Richard Taylor told the inquest at Burnley Magistrates Court that the window cleaner gained entry to her home after visiting during a routine appointment.

He said: “He went to the address and was alerted to the situation by a number of flies inside the property.

“He gained access and found her in the kitchen in a badly decomposed state.”

Nobody knows how long she had been there before she was found.

Very little information is known about the woman, who was given a council funeral after the authorities were unable to trace any family or friends.

Mr Taylor continued: “Given the circumstances of her death, a post mortem was authorised and a cause of death was unascertainable.”

An autopsy was also carried out but unable to provide a cause of death due to the decomposed state of her body.

In a statement read in to evidence, PC Alison Richards confirmed that the police had tried find any friends, family or next of kin but were unable to.

She added that there was no reason to suspect foul play.

Recording his conclusion, Mr Taylor said: “Given these circumstances, I have very little information, which means I will record an open conclusion.

“Angela Thompson was found dead inside her home on October 24 and due to decomposition of the body, it was not possible to ascertain a cause of death.”