Man held after body found in Cheshire garage

A man has been arrested after the body of a woman was found by fire crews attending a house fire.

The woman, who has not yet been formally identified, was found yesterday in the garage of a house in Cranage, near Holmes Chapel, Cheshire.

Firefighters were called to the address, on Byley Lane, shortly before 11am and extinguished the blaze before making a search of the property where they found the body.

A 48-year-old man from Hale, Manchester, who is thought to have been known to the victim, was arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody for questioning.

Detective Inspector Steve Beddows, from Cheshire Police's Major Investigation Team, appealed for witnesses to come forward.

He said: "We are particularly keen to speak to anyone who saw a man driving a silver Vauxhall Corsa on Byley Lane at about 10am yesterday.

"Later in Smith Lane in Mobberley we would appeal to anyone who saw a man acting suspiciously next to a silver Corsa, which firefighters were later called to as it had been set alight.

"We also want to speak to anyone who saw a man wearing a green or grey jacket with the hood up cycle off from Smith Lane on a bicycle towards Pepper Street."

DI Beddows also appealed to anyone who was in the village of Mobberley, near Knutsford, on Thursday and may have seen a man acting suspiciously.

He added that a post-mortem examination was due to be carried out later today.

Anyone with information should contact Cheshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

PA