RESIDENTS of a sleepy hamlet near Stoke Climsland have been left deeply shocked after the 'unexplained' death of one of their neighbours, who was found at her house on Monday.

Police are continuing to appeal for witnesses who may have seen anything unusual in the area of Pempwell on Monday morning after the body was discovered. A man was also found seriously injured at the scene.

Police were called to the property after the woman, whom neighbours have named as Amanda Sorrell, 52, failed to turn up at her workplace at Cornwall Council's Liskeard Register Office and concern was raised for her welfare.

Police accompanied by armed officers arrived at the secluded property called Trevorder around noon where they discovered the body of a woman believed to be in her 50s.

A 65-year-old man, believed to be Miss Sorrell's boyfriend, was also found suffering from serious injuries and was flown to Derriford Hospital by air ambulance.

There was a considerable amount of police presence in Stoke Climsland, a mile and a half away, where the school was locked by police as 'a precautionary measure' and no-one allowed in or out. Later, officers confirmed that there was no danger to anyone else but the circumstances of the death are yet to be established. Police said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident. A post-mortem examination was due to be held yesterday.

A neighbour, who asked not to be named, said Miss Sorrell was a lovely lady who would be greatly missed: 'The last time I saw her to chat to was in the lane on Saturday.

'She was lovely, one of those people who brightened your day when you saw her because she was always laughing. She was a kind, loving person and we are all very, very shocked.

'This is a hamlet of 12 houses and although we do not live in each other's pockets we all know each other and like to think we all look out for each other. This has deeply shocked the community here.'

He said the first he knew that something had happened was when the police turned up asking for directions to the house.

'There's been nothing confirmed as to what happened in there but I have to say that the police were fantastic. They were really considerate of everybody's feelings while having to do a very difficult job.'

Stoke Climsland postmistress Sue Watts said that initially it was thought something had happened at the school because there were eight police cars, two ambulances and an air ambulance there.

'The school was locked down and an armed response unit turned up, and for a while it was very scary because we thought there was something going on inside the school,' she said.

A cordon was set up around the property at Pempwell while crime scene officers examined the scene.

A police spokesman said: 'The death is currently being treated as unexplained as is how the man came to be injured.

'This is a very early stage in the enquiry and we have not had the opportunity to speak with the injured man at this time as he is undergoing hospital treatment.

'The results of scene examination will help us build up a picture of what happened. Until we speak to the injured man we will not have a clearer picture of what occurred.'

If anyone was in the Pempwell area on Monday morning and saw anything unusual please contact the police on 08452 777444 quoting reference number 335 270910.