THE body of an unnamed 79-year-old black woman was found alight near the war memorial at the Great Lines, Gillingham, early on Saturday morning.

Detectives were called in after firefighters found the body at around 6am.

Pathologist Dr David recorded the cause of death as smoke inhalation and burns.

Police cordoned off all entrances to the Great Lines and turned people away as they carried out investigations all day on Saturday.

Kent Police spokesman Mark Pugash said: "We are treating the death as non-suspicious."