Residents' shock after body found in Smethwick street

The 48-year-old woman was discovered by officers in Cheshire Road, shortly before 11.50pm on Wednesday night and was confirmed dead at the scene.

Police had been called to reports of a woman collapsing on the pavement near to the junction with High Street.

The identity of the woman has not yet been revealed, although police confirmed her family had been made aware of her death.

A stretch of Cheshire Road was cordoned off up to the junction with Edward Road while officers conducted door-to-door inquiries in the area. The road was still sealed off yesterday afternoon.

Police put up a blue investigation tent in front of a property while forensic detectives carried out their investigation.

Pinder Singh, aged 21, was among a number of residents to express his shock.

"I got home around midnight and the police were already here," said Mr Singh, who lives in a house directly opposite the scene.

"I heard someone had been murdered. It has stunned me really. You don't expect this kind of thing right on your doorstep."

Another Cheshire Road resident Bruno Cuccu, aged 46, said: "I grew up around here and apart from a bit of anti-social behaviour it is usually fairly quiet. I had been out and only found out about the body in the morning. It is really shocking."

The investigation centred on the road in front of a terraced house connected to the Great Pound Plus Supermarket, which shut down last year.

Two people currently rent the property. Mr M. Singh, aged 42, who owns the building, said he was woken up by a call from police at 1.30am and told about the incident.

He said: "They told me they had a found a woman's body and asked me if I had heard anything. It was a complete shock to me. I only rent out the property so I don't get around here very often.

"At the moment I'm just trying to get in touch with my tenants to make sure they are OK. No one seems to know what's going on."

A group of five officers combed a section of High Street, while forensic investigators collected evidence from the pavement in small plastic containers.

Bins opposite Smethwick Council House were emptied out along High Street as the search for clues continued.

Ali Zadeh, aged 31, who runs the New Style Hair Studio on High Street, was among a number of local business owners who the police requested CCTV footage from.

He said: "I let the police take the footage. Our camera points out onto the street so I don't know if it will be useful.

"It is a shocking thing to happen. We get a few fights in the streets around here but I have not known anything like this before."

Forensic investigators dressed in white jumpsuits attended the scene shortly after midday and removed the woman's body on a stretcher. She was taken away in a forensic van for a post mortem to be conducted.

Later in the afternoon a Vauxhall Zafira and an Audi which were parked next to the blue tent were taken away by police. It is understood both cars will be examined as part of the murder investigation.

Police have appealed for anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward with information.

Detective Inspector Caroline Corfield, from West Midlands Police homicide department, said: "We are still in the early stages of the investigation and are appealing to anyone who may have been in Cheshire Road or the surrounding area on Wednesday night to contact us.

"It is unclear at this stage as to how the woman died and a forensic post mortem will be held in due course to establish the cause of death.

"The family of the woman have been made aware of their loved ones death and specialist officers will be appointed to them to liaise with them at this sad time."

Yesterday a 14-year-old boy was arrested by police in connection with the murder.

Anyone with any information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.