MYSTERY surrounds the death of a woman whose body was found beside a burnt-out car.

Jo Thewlis

MYSTERY surrounds the death of a woman whose body was found beside a burnt-out car.

The body of Jane Way, 69, was discovered by fire crews after they were called to a burning car fire Strawberry Field Farm in Capel Road, Bentley, on October 18 last year.

An inquest into the strange circumstances surrounding the woman's death was held in Ipswich yesterday.

Peter Dean, Greater Suffolk coroner, told the hearing: “Essentially, we have some unexplained circumstances and unanswered questions surrounding this sad death.”

Mrs Way, of Manningtree Road, Stutton, was found at the rear of her Ford Fiesta car, which had been set alight at around 7pm.

“From what was at the scene, it was concluded the fire was started deliberately in the main cab of the car and ignited by someone standing in the car door,” Dr Dean said.

The car door was open when fire crews found the blaze but Mrs Way's body was around five ft from the boot.

The inquest heard Mrs Way had been quite a reclusive character and had been behaving oddly a few days before her death.

A neighbour told the investigation he had seen Mrs Way walking up and down the road outside their houses on the evening of October 15 and walked her home.

Martin Delacamp, manager of the Stutton Community Shop, was the last person to see Mrs Way alive when he delivered groceries to her house the next day on October 16.

Mrs Way's cause of death was found to be due to burns and exposure to fire.

A forensic investigation concluded there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the pensioner's death and Dr Dean recorded an open verdict.

“It is unclear from the evidence whether she intended to take her own life,” Dr Dean said. “Our thoughts are with all those affected by Mrs Way's death.”