Body found in grounds of hospital by workers

A body was found in the grounds of Dudley's Russells Hall Hospital, sparking a police investigation.

Staff from the hospital raised the alarm after making the grim discovery.

The body was found in bushes on the boundary of the site, off Bushey Fields Road. Police cordoned off the area just after 2pm yesterday and cut back shrubs to scour the scene for clues.

Firefighters from Brierley Hill were called to land at the back of the hospital's maternity unit to help clear undergrowth in the area to allow police to investigate.

Watch commander Gavin Pardoe said: "I believe a member of staff was passing and found the woman in the bushes. There was some really thick gorse and bushes there so we were just called to clear the area."

Police said the woman was pronounced dead at the scene and they are investigating. They have not revealed if the death is being treated as suspicious.

Residents living nearby spoke of their shock. Grandmother Mavis Roberts, aged 67, of Bushey Fields Road, said: "I have never seen anything like it. We don't get any trouble around here.

"There were police hacking at the bushes and pulling them back." Anyone with information should call police on 0345 113 5000.