Ipswich residents left shocked after body found in park

Police officers were called to Sherrington Road recreation ground at 5.50am on Wednesday by a member of the public after a woman was found lying on the ground.

Ambulance crews attended and the woman was declared dead about 30 minutes later.

Police were called to Sherrington Road recreation ground at 5.50am on Wednesday (Image: Lucy Taylor) Joyce Matthews, a resident in Pine View Road which is mere metres away from the park, stated her shock at the woman's death.

She said: "I've lived here for 20 years and nothing like this has ever happened here before.

"I regularly go for walks around the area and through the park, so it's shocking that something like this could happen so close to home."

Gail Kerrison, who works at Broomhill Library in Sherrington Road, said she first realised what was going on when she arrived for work.

She explained: "When I turned up I saw all the officers in their white suits examining things, it wasn't just sad to see it was also quite scary. 

"You could tell something had happened but you don't know what."

Residents have been left unnerved and shocked by Wednesday's discovery (Image: Lucy Taylor) The death is currently being treated as unexplained while a large police presence has blocked access to the park as initial enquiries take place. 

Another resident, Jane Forman, explained how the unknown nature of the woman's death makes it more concerning.

She added: "It's unnerving. I walk my dog around these roads and in the very park. 

"It's scary to think what goes on around here and what could happen. This is horrible to see and very, very saddening."

Councillor Ian Fisher, who represents the Castle Hill Ward, also expressed his sadness.

Councillor Ian Fisher has stated that this is a distressing time for the local community (Image: Newsquest) He said: "It's a distressing time for lots of people. It must be an awful thing to have come across the body in the first place.

"One of the nastiest things is the amount of speculation that happens in these situations.

"We have to bear in mind that whoever this person was that has lost their life has got a family and friends.

"If allow the police to concentrate on their investigation hopefully we get the information quicker so we can put the public's minds at rest."

Anyone with information related to the discovery of the woman's body is urged to contact Suffolk police, quoting crime reference number 37/48426/25.