Major police update after police cordon off Lowther Gardens in Lytham following find of woman's body in pond
Death currently being treated as unexplained and an investigation under way, say police.
One of the Fylde coast’s busiest theatres was forced into lockdown for a time after the site was cordoned off following a horror find.
Police have confirmed there are no suspicious circumstances after the discovery of the body of a woman in the pond at the centre of Lowther Gardens in Lytham at around 9am today.
The Gardens were promptly cordoned off by police, with officers stationed behind crime scene tape at all four corner entrances to the popular venue.
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While visitors were excluded, around 10 staff members in the Lowther Pavilion theatre at the heart of the Gardens were confined to the building.
The group included Lowther’s chief executive and artistic director Tim Lince, who later confirmed the venue had been allowed to reopen around 11am, ahead of an afternoon classical music recital and an evening concert by prog rock superstar Rick Wakeman.
“We just followed police instruction and we got on with work as usual,” said Tim, who declined to comment further.
Lowther Gardens, which hosted a food and drink festival over the August Bank Holiday weekend and is regularly a venue for such events, is one of seven Green Flag parks in Fylde.
The site features a children’s playground, padel courts, a bowling green and a cafe as well as being a very popular location for a stroll and with dog walkers.
It can be accessed from either West Beach, facing Lytham Green, or Church Road and was this morning due to host the Stepping Out Nordic walking group, who were standing outside the cordon at the appointed time of their get-together.
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“It’s such a sad situation,” said one of the group on seeing the police activity.
Police have confirmed there are no suspicious circumstances
A Lancashire Police spokesperson said: “At 9am on Monday, September 7, we were called to reports of a body found in a pond at Lowther Gardens, Lowther Terrace, Lytham.
“Emergency services attended the scene and very sadly found the body of a woman.
“Our thoughts are with her loved ones at this difficult time.
“Her death is not being treated as suspicious, and a file will be passed to the coroner in due course.”