AN inquest has opened into the death of a 47-year-old woman whose body was found in the driveway of a Poole hostel last month.

The Bournemouth Coroner's Court was adjourned until a date to be fixed after District Coroner Sheriff Payne heard how the cause of Sharon Dowding's death had not been determined.

Ms Dowding's body was found near her home in Langdon Road, Parkstone, at around 3 am on November 5. A police investigation was launched and the scene cordoned off as forensics officers scoured the area for clues and attempted to find out exactly what had happened.

The driveway of Langdon House, which offers support to people suffering from drug and alcohol problems, mental illness and ex-offenders, was sealed off with a milk float parked between the cordon lines.

It was thought that Ms Dowding had been accidentally struck by the vehicle as she lay on the ground. One theory was that she was already dead.

Langdon House is owned by Christian charity Langley House Trust which no longer provides services there. The charity leases the property to PAS Ltd (Providers of Accommodation and Support), a Bournemouth-based housing provider.

Bewildered neighbours told the Daily Echo how they had been stunned to wake up and find the area on their doorstep had been sealed off.

A post mortem failed to ascertain the cause of Ms Dowding's death and further tests have also been inconclusive. Police later confirmed that they are not treating the incident as suspicious.