UPDATE: |’We thought there was a gas leak, but then someone told us there’d been a murder’ News

A 39-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder

Residents of a leafy Stockport suburb have described their shock as emergency services descended this morning (April 16).

Altrincham Road in Gatley was swarmed with police shortly after 9.30am, who quickly cordoned off a semi-detached property close to the M60.

Some of those living nearby told the M.E.N. how the presence of several Cadent vehicles initially led them to believe the incident was a gas leak.

To their horror, it then quickly became clear the situation was a tragedy.

On arrival, officers discovered the body of a 93-year-old woman. This evening, it has been confirmed a 39-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of murder.

She remains in police custody.

On a busy main road between Cheadle, Gatley and Sharston, the sight of a large semi-detached house taped-off with liveried cars parked outside and officers standing guard stopped many passers-by in their tracks.

Next-door-neighbours described the residents of the house as a “lovely old couple” that they knew well.

“We didn’t hear anything in the night, or this morning,” they told the M.E.N. “The first we heard of it was looking out the window to see police cars.”

A scene remained in place throughout the day, with forensic investigators working inside the property and adjoining garden, and plain-clothes detectives going door-to-door to speak to neighbours.

Images take from the scene show a window to the rear of the property had been smashed.

Dave Gerighty, another resident of Altrincham Road, said he initially was told the incident related to a gas leak.

“There were Cadent vans here doing checks, making the area secure,” he said.

“We woke up to banging and drilling but there has been building works around here lately so we didn’t think anything of it at first.”

A neighbour opposite, who did not want to be named, told the M.E.N: “It was all going off when I was leaving just before 11 – police, ambulances and three fire engines.

“I didn’t know the couple well, just that the lady was very elderly, as was her husband – though I hadn’t seen him for a while.”

Due to previous contact between the police and the deceased, GMP said they had made a mandatory referral of this incident to the Independent Office of Police Conduct.

“Following an initial assessment by GMP’s Professional Standards Directorate, all officers remain fully operational,” a statement said.

A spokesperson for GMFRS said, “At around 10am today (April 16), firefighters were called to reports of a gas leak on Altrincham Road in Gatley.

“Three fire engines from Cheadle, Whitehill and Stockport fire stations quickly arrived at the scene. Crews used gas monitoring equipment within the property and found no abnormal readings.

“Checks were also carried out to the neighbouring property as a precautionary measure.”

In a statement from police, Detective Inspector Adam Hitchen, Senior Investigating Officer, said: “The priority for our investigation is understanding the full circumstances which led to this tragic incident and getting justice for the victim.

“Our thoughts are with the victim’s family, who are aware and are being supported by specialist officers.

“We recognise that this investigation may cause concern within the local community, but I want to assure the public that this is an isolated incident, with a swift arrest made, and no wider threat.

“You will notice an increased presence in the area today whilst we conduct enquiries, but also across the coming days as the local neighbourhood team look to provide reassurance to those living close by.

“Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact police on 101 quoting the log number 726 of 16/04/25.”

Information can also be reported online or by using the LiveChat function at www.gmp.police.uk. If you can’t report online, call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.