The woman who died after the novichok poisoning in Amesbury suffered damage to her hands and face, Sky News understands.

Dawn Sturgess, 44, passed away on 8 July at Salisbury District hospital after she was taken ill at her partner's home in the Wiltshire town the previous weekend.

Her partner Charlie Rowley survived the incident and is still being treated in hospital.

How does novichok affect the body?

Last Friday, the Metropolitan Police confirmed that they had found a small bottle that they believed was the source of the contamination.

Mr Rowley has told relatives that he remembers giving Dawn what appeared to be a small perfume bottle before the pair were exposed to the nerve agent.


Within their complex investigation, detectives are looking at the possibility that Ms Sturgess tested the spray on her face and hands, believing it to be perfume.

Image: The ambulance used for Charlie Rowley and Ms Sturgess is taken away by the army

Yesterday, a post-mortem got under way to try to establish the precise cause of her death.

The results may help inform the process to establish conclusively whether the novichok was from the same batch that was used in Salisbury to poison former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.

Both survived the attack in March and were discharged from Salisbury District Hospital after extensive treatment.

CCTV shows victims in days before poisoning

Wiltshire police officer Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey also survived after he was exposed to the nerve agent as he investigated the attack on the Skripals.

The government has continued to make clear it believes the Russian state was behind the attack on the Skripals, but Vladimir Putin and other senior Russian politicians have consistently dismissed suggestions of any involvement in either incident.

The search for evidence in Salisbury has now moved to Queen Elizabeth gardens in Salisbury, which has been cordoned off since Ms Sturgess and Mr Rowley were admitted to hospital.

Image: Flowers for Ms Sturgess, who died after being exposed to novichok

Wiltshire Police Deputy Chief Constable Paul Mills said: "The commencement of the searching of the gardens is a significant step in the operation and our key priority is to return the gardens to the public at the earliest opportunity.

"We are intentionally undertaking a detailed and meticulous search so that the public can return to using the gardens with confidence when they are reopened."

Mike Wade, Public Health England (PHE) deputy director for health protection in the South West said: "The risk to the public remains low.

"As a precaution, PHE continues to strongly advise the public not to pick up any strange items such as syringes, needles, cosmetics or similar objects made of materials such as metal, plastic or glass.

"The advice remains - if you didn't drop it, then don't pick it up."