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An investigation set give a grieving family answers over how and why a mum-of-three was tragically mauled by her two American Bulldog pets has been postponed due to coronavirus.

The family of Elayne Stanley would have today heard reasons and conclusions about the 44-year-old's shock death, giving her relatives some hopeful peace of mind and closure.

Cheshire Coroner's Office said the coroner's probe into her killing has now been suspended.

Ms Stanley was savagely attacked by the two animals in the living room of her terraced home on Graham Road in Widnes.

The slightly-built woman was attacked by the out-of-control dogs, called DJ and Billy, and she suffered fatal injuries on September 24.

Police who arrived at the scene were forced to shoot DJ as they were unable to calm him down.

(Image: Liverpool Echo)

In a brief statement, issued by the Cheshire Coroner's Office, based in Warrington, a spokeswoman said: "Please note, due to the unfolding COVID-19 situation, the inquest into the death of Elayne Stanley, listed to be heard at 11.00am on Tuesday 24 March 2020, at Warrington Coroner’s Court has now been withdrawn.

"This inquest will be re-listed in due course."

(Image: Liverpool Echo)

Billy, a female dog, was a lot more tranquil in the aftermath of the shocking incident, and was taken to a secure kennel.

No arrests were made in connection with the tragedy and three weeks after Ms Stanley's death, police confirmed they were not treating it as a crime.

Because the animals were a legal breed, and it was Ms Stanley's responsibility to take care of them, who was at a private address, the case was not considered criminal.

With the absence of a prosecution, today's inquest would have given the 44-year-old's more insight into exactly how the incident occurred.

Police, medical professionals and other officials were set to be called to give evidence about how the dogs came to attack the mum.

A verdict would have been recorded so that Ms Stanley's death certificate could be completed and kept by her grieving family.