Police sealed off a road in South Staffordshire today after the body of a woman was found in a burnt-out car.

The discovery followed a woman in her 50s being reported as missing from her Wolverhampton home last night.

Fire crews were called to the fire in a red Vauxhall Agila parked on farmland in Swindon, near Wombourne, at 7.45pm. The body was later found in the vehicle.

Police said the victim had not been formally identified but said the death was not being treated as suspicious.

Staffordshire Police spokesman Peter Bate said: “Officers were called by Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service to a car fire in a field off Chasepool Road in Swindon.

“When the fire was put out, a body was found in the car. Although formal identification has yet to take place, the person in the car is believed to be a woman, aged in her 50s, from the Wolverhampton area who was reported missing earlier last night.

“Part of the road has been cordoned off to allow a full examination by police scene of crime officers and fire investigators this morning. “At this stage, the fire is not being treated as suspicious and officers will be preparing a report for the coroner.”