Woman may have lain dead for years

Woman may have lain dead for years

The body of an elderly woman lay undiscovered in her flat for up to five years.

The badly decomposed body of Isabella Purves, who would have been 90 this year, was found by police earlier this week.

Officers forced their way into her flat in the Canonmills area of Edinburgh after a neighbour reported water dripping through the ceiling.

They had to fight their way through piles of unopened mail behind her front door. It is thought her pension was paid directly into a bank account and utility bills were paid by direct debit. Police are trying to trace her relatives.

Neighbours in Rodney Street spoke of their horror at the discovery.

Giovanni Cilia, who owns the Fioritalia florist below Ms Purves's traditional tenement flat, said he was shocked at how long it took to find her.

He said: "How did no one notice the smell, or wonder where she was? I heard there was a big pile of letters and bills behind the door. I used to see her walk past the shop maybe four times a week. She would often go across the street and pick up litter to clean the place up."

Mr Cilia, who has run the shop for 20 years, added: "It's shocked everyone here. When I saw her she looked quite fit and healthy for her age.

"She used to wear boots and would often carry a rucksack like she enjoyed going for walks."

Douglas McLellan, of Age Concern and Help the Aged in Scotland, said it was a "tragic case".