THE wife of a Blackburn police officer has been found hanged at her home.

Paramedics were called to the house, in Rhodes Avenue, Blackburn, shortly after 7am yesterday and found the woman who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police also attended the house and an inquiry is currently being conducted on behalf of the coroner. A post mortem examination was due to be carried out and an inquest will be opened. Neighbours named the couple as Paul and Tracy Royle and said they had been married for about four years. They said the couple had two young children.

Fighting back tears one said: "We went to the wedding and they made a good pair. It is absolutely awful."

Another neighbour said: "You couldn't wish for better neighbours." Detective chief inspector Neil Smith said PC Royle the husband, is a serving police officer based in Eastern Division and said he was now on compassionate leave.

DCI Smith added: "The death is not being treated as suspicious.

"The family and husband are naturally devastated and are being comforted by relatives and friends."