Woman found hanging from tree by 12-year-old boy

Witnesses describe the victim as a 'young girl'

Flowers left at the scene (Get Surrey)

A woman was found hanging from a tree by a 12-year-old in Surrey.

Charlie Hollands and his friends were returning from a funfair next to the Spectrum leisure complex in Guilford at around 9.20pm on Friday night when he saw the woman.

Layla Hollands, 38, from Wood Street Village, said her 12-year-old son was walking down Parkway, a major road in the north of the town, with some friends and their elder brothers.

Charlie “looked to the right and saw the body”, Ms Hollands said, adding that her son was with a group of around 12 people, the oldest being 19.

He called her shortly after 9.30pm “sounding a bit shocked,” and said “there was a body hanging from the tree".

"The older boys pulled him away and went and looked. Someone phoned the police,” Ms Hollands told Get Surrey.

She added that Charlie seemed fine, saying she asked if he wanted to be taken him home but he said no.

"He's staying at his friend's house, they've said he's fine and alright," she said.

Video footage shows a huge emergency services presence at the scene.

A spokesman for Surrey Police said: “The area was cordoned off and road closures were put in place while emergency services dealt with the incident.

"Ambulance crews were also in attendance but the woman was sadly pronounced dead at the scene shortly afterwards.

“An investigation into the death, which is being treated as unexplained, remains ongoing but it is not believed there is any third party involvement or any suspicious circumstances at this time.'

Flowers have been left at the scene, and messages of sympathy have been posted on the local paper's Facebook page.

Some people who said they know witnesses to the incident suggested the victim was a 'young girl', perhaps a teenager of around 15-years-old.

“My heart goes out to this poor girls family, but I can't help but think for her to be on such a busy place ( when there is a more secluded woodland area a few feet away) at a still fairly busy time that it was perhaps a cry for help that went too far! And the poor boys who found her,” one woman wrote on Facebook.

“Another sad loss of life for someone obviously struggling with something. I have been there but with a lot of help and support I am back in a good place. Mental health needs more attention!” another person posted.

Anyone affected by any of these issues should contact the Samaritans