THE death of a woman whose body was found in woodland in Caerleon on Saturday, November 22, is still classed as “unexplained” and police inquiries are continuing.

The body of Penelope Coombes, aged 56, of Caerleon, was found in woodland at Glen Usk View at about 9.50am that day.

Yesterday David Bowen, senior coroner for Gwent, opened and adjourned an inquest into Mrs Coombes’ death.

Coroner’s officer David Arnold told the hearing that her body had been found near a steep slope in woodland and that she had been pronounced dead at the scene.

At the time, residents told the Argus that several police cars and an ambulance had attended the scene, in what is a quiet area of the town, with police officers remaining there for much of the day.

A post mortem examination, carried out at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff by Home Office forensic pathologist Dr Stephen Leadbeatter, subsequently revealed that Mrs Coombes, who was due to have her 57th birthday on December 1, had suffered blunt injury to her right chest, including multiple rib fractures and a right lung injury.

Mr Arnold said that further tests were being carried out and that police inquiries are ongoing. Gwent Police confirmed that Mrs Coombes’ death continues to be treated as unexplained.

Mr Bowen adjourned the inquest for two months and formally released her body to her family for a funeral.