Burnt body in car park confirmed as woman in her 40s (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Burnt body in car park confirmed as woman in her 40s

11:14am Wednesday 8th August 2012 in News By Alex Winter

Detectives have revealed today that the body found in Sainsbury’s car park, Chippenham, in the early hours of Tuesday is a woman in her 40s.

National newspapers have speculated that the body is that of a homeless person who was set alight by three thugs.

But police said this was incorrect, and that it was too early to say whether this incident was suspiciious, and are considering a number of different lines of inquiry.

Police were reviewing CCTV overnight, and a post mortem examination at Flax Bourton Mortuary yesterday revealed that the body was of a woman in her 40s.

At about 3am on Tuesday, a dog handler on a routine patrol discovered a fire in part of the Sainsbury’s car park in Bath Road, Chippenham.

The fire service attended, extinguished the fire and the area was cordoned off. Once the fire was put out, police discovered a body within the debris.

The cordons have been removed and the store is now open.

Police continue to appeal for witnesses to come forward if they were in the area or going through the car park between 1.30am and 3am on Tuesday.

If you have information that may assist police please call 101 or if you wish to remain anonymous please call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.