A WOMAN has tragically died after being found with serious injuries in Benfleet.

Emergency services, including armed police and paramedics, flooded Kale Road shortly after 3pm on Thursday after being called to reports of a woman found with serious injuries.

Sadly, the woman died at the location, Essex Police confirmed on Saturday.

Her death is being treated as unexpected and police have launched an investigation to establish how she became injured.

As part of police enquiries, a man was arrested and has now been released. The force was unable to confirm further details on the arrest before the Echo went to print this evening.

Andrew Sheldon, Tory county councillor for South Benfleet, said: “Our community is in complete shock. It’s terrible. When we heard the sirens and saw the air ambulance land in the town we knew it was something serious.

“But the news that the police were involved and a lady had tragically lost her life was awful to hear. Our thoughts and prayers are with the lady’s loved ones and neighbours, and also with the police who attended the scene.”

Emergency services remained on the street for more than five hours on Thursday, before making door-to-door enquiries and asking for CCTV footage.

A large cordon was put in place around a number of homes in Kale Road and a path leading to Clarence Road, a small woodland area, which remained throughout Thursday evening and Friday.

Diane Cain, whose home backs onto the cordoned area, said: “I didn’t know the woman who died but it is just very sad.

“It is really so sad that something like that has happened.

“It wasn’t down our road, but it is horrible it happened, it is a shock.”

Police are treating this incident as “isolated” and continue to believe there is no threat to the wider community.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Essex Police on 101 and quote incident number 652 of October 17.