BY IAN ROSS

POLICE divers recovered the body of a middle-aged woman from a flooded quarry on the edge of Congleton.

The body of Ann Munslow was recovered 24 hours after she had been reported missing by her husband Christopher.

Mrs Munslow was 55 years of age, and came from Kent Drive, Congleton.

She had gone shopping locally last Wednesday afternoon, and her husband became concerned for her when she failed to return.

Members of the Cheshire Police underwater search team found her body at 3.30pm on Thursday in Astbury Mere, a former quarry.

A post-mortem examination revealed the cause of death to be drowning, and police said there were no suspicious circumstances.

A police spokeswoman said Mrs Munslow had been unwell recently, and had left home at 3pm last Wednesday in her Ford Escort to go shopping at the West Heath precinct.

Her husband contacted the police after she failed to return home, and a member of the public spotted her body in the water while walking at the mere.

The Escort was found a short distance away.

Mrs Munslow was certified dead at the scene, and her body was taken to the mortuary at Macclesfield District General Hospital, where the post-mortem was performed.

An inquest has been opened for identification purposes only.