A pensioner walked into a police station and said she had killed her father and buried him in her back garden, it emerged last night.

The woman, named locally as Barbara Coombes, 63, said she killed Kenneth Coombes more than a decade ago.

Last night officers launched a murder inquiry and began digging up the garden of Mrs Coombes’s £127,000 semi in Stockport, Cheshire.

Detectives also left questionnaires with neighbours asking them if they remembered Mr Coombes, who would be 99 if alive today.

They confirmed a 63-year-old woman had been arrested on suspicion of murder and she was helping them with their inquiries.

Residents told the Daily Mail they remembered Mrs Coombes telling locals that her father had died some years ago.

Police have found a body of what they believe to be a man and are asking residents in the road if they knew a Kenneth Coombes

Officers are pictured at the scene in Reddish tonight, where they have found what is believed to be the remains of a male

A body has been found in Reddish after a woman walked into a police station to tell officers she had killed her father

Tonight police discovered a body, thought to be the remains of a male, and are now questioning residents

A forensics tent can be seen in the back garden of the property, where human remains have been discovered

The house remains taped off and police have been searching since a woman entered Cheadle Heath station to declare she'd killed her father

Mrs Coombes, who is separated from her husband, has a student daughter, Islay, 29, who also used to live at the property. She was too upset to comment when contacted yesterday.

Neighbour Rita Spilman, 73, said of Mrs Coombes: ‘She is a quiet sort of person really.

‘I used to say hello to her, but that was about it. She didn’t mix with people very much.

‘I’m sure she told people her dad had died. I don’t remember exactly when, but it was some time ago.’

Mrs Coombes’s mother, Mary, died aged just 49 in March 1973. Mrs Coombes walked into Cheadle Heath police station, more than eight miles from her house, on Sunday to confess.

Inquiries are ongoing and the man's family, who are being supported by specially trained officers, have been informed.

Police have started searching a garden at a £130,000 property in Matlock Road. It is understood 18 bins have been delivered to the property at the request of officers and evidence tents have been set up at the back of the house.

Neighbours today expressed their shock at the murder investigation.

Neighbours said they were shocked at the launch of a murder investigation after a woman told police she'd killed her father

Officers have launched a murder investigation and on Tuesday a crime scene was established in the garden on Matlock Road, Reddish

A murder investigation has been launched after a woman walked into a police station and told officers she'd killed her father and buried him in this back garden

Forensics officers were seen searching the back garden, where a woman claims to have buried her father after killing him

Officers are pictured at the scene this evening, where they have been searching throughout the afternoon

Ann Millar, 73, said: 'She is a lovely woman who has lived in that house for years with her dad and daughter. I never saw her live with a husband.

'She never gave any impression that she had a dark past and I can't believe she would be capable of something like this.

'I used to see her in the morning walking her dog and always stopped to say hello.'

Teresa Cunningham added: 'She was very reserved with me. She is dressed very poorly and has grey straggly hair.

'I only ever saw her when she was walking her small dog or returning home with the shopping.'

After officers erected forensics tents in the back garden of a property in Reddish, a body was found at the location

Tents can be seen in the back garden, where forensics teams are searching after a woman said she buried her father there

Police are scouring the property after a woman told officers she had killer her father years ago

Two tents have been erected in the back garden where forensics officers are searching after a woman says she killed her father and buried him there

A woman who walked into a police station and said she killed a man several years ago and buried his body in her back garden has been arrested on suspicion of murder

Anyone with information is urged to come forward.

Detective Inspector Dan Clegg from GMP's Major Incident Team, said: 'Following the report, we've made a number of other inquiries and have today, with help from specialist officers, began searching in the garden.

'It's still very early days in our investigation but I'd like to thank the public so far for their support in allowing us to carry out our enquiries, I'm sure this has been worrying for people in the local area.'

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting reference number 1273 of 07/01/18 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.