A MURDER inquiry has been launched after a 58-year-old woman was found dead at her home in Ramsbottom.

Her body was discovered at the house in George Road on Thursday night by a male friend who had called round to see her.

She was found slumped in a chair in the property shortly before 10.30pm.

He alerted the police and the area was immediately sealed off.

A Home Office pathologist is due to carry out a post mortem examination to establish how the woman died.

Scenes of crime and forensic officers were examining the house in an effort to find out what happened.

Police were also carrying out house to house inquiries in the neighbourhood.

A 55-year-old man was arrested lon Thursday night on suspicion of murder .

He was taken to Bury police station where he is due to be quizzed by detectives.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the CID at Bury on 0161 856 8150.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "The death is being treated as suspicious. We are waiting for the outcome of the post mortem.

"We are trying to trace the last movements of the woman who died and would like to speak to anyone who has seen her recently.

"We are still trying to establish when the woman died."