POLICE recovered the body of a woman from the Manchester Ship Canal on Monday morning.

Officers were alerted by a member of the public who spotted the body near Chester Road swing bridge shortly before 11am.

The woman has been identified and officers are supporting her family.

Cheshire Police confirmed that there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death.

Residents reported a large police presence in the area while the recovery operation took place.

A spokesman for Cheshire Police said: “At 10.51am, police were alerted by a member of the public that there was a body in the canal near the swing bridge on Chester Road, Walton.

“Emergency services removed the body of a woman from the canal.

“The woman has now been identified and police are supporting the family.

“There are no suspicious circumstances and a file will be prepared for the coroner.”