Great Western Coffee Shop

Woman's body found near railway tracks

A woman's body has been found near railway tracks at Dunball foot crossing in Bridgwater.

British Transport Police (BTP) were called out at 3.41pm yesterday after a member of the rail engineering staff made the discovery.

The body was found about 150 yards from the crossing and is currently being treated as unexplained, although it is not believed she was struck by a train.

BTP and Avon and Somerset officers attended the scene.

A spokesman for BTP said: ^Enquiries are continuing to establish the identity of the woman and the full circumstances surrounding her death.^

The lines were blocked in the area and this caused some disruption to services, with trains diverted via Westbury.

The body was recovered and the lines handed back at 10.21pm yesterday.

A post mortem examination is scheduled for today.

A BTP spokesman added: ^The scene was preserved overnight so a daylight search of the area could be carried out today.^

Woman found on railway tracks identified as missing woman

A woman who was found dead near railway tracks has now formally been identified as missing Highbridge woman Edith Joan Batten.

The 79-year-old was discovered by railway staff at Dunball foot crossing, near Bridgwater, on Tuesday afternoon.

A post mortem examination the following day revealed she had not been struck by a train, but the cause of death has yet to be established.

Ms Batten was last seen at her home at 11am on Sunday and was reported missing the following day as her family became increasingly concerned because she had left without her medication.

A huge search operation was launched, including the police helicopter and dogs and the Burnham Area Rescue Boat.

Ms Batten was found 150 yards from the crossing on Tuesday afternoon and British Transport Police (BTP) and Avon and Somerset officers attended the scene.

The lines were blocked in the area at the time and this caused some disruption to services, with trains diverted via Westbury.

A file is now being prepared for the coroner.

Inquest into death of pensioner found by Bridgwater railway

A pensioner found dead by railway tracks near Bridgwater may have died from hypothermia, an inquest heard.

Edith Joan Batten, 79, was discovered on October 25 2011 by railway staff at Dunball foot crossing two days after leaving her home in Dunstan Road, Highbridge.

The hearing at Bridgwater Town Hall on Thursday was told she was found naked from the waist down, although there was no indication her clothing, found nearby, had been forcibly removed.

A post mortem revealed she had not been struck by a train and also detected Alzheimer's disease.

On October 23 2011, Edith had gone for a walk after asking her husband Derrick Batton when dinner would be ready. He reported her missing the next day.

Mrs Batton, a retired psychiatric nurse, had disappeared several times in the past and had always been found within 24 hours.

She had previously been found at Paddington station, having caught a train there without reason, and had been known to knock on neighbours^ doors convinced she was still a district nurse.

West Somerset Coroner Michael Rose said: ^The number of people who suffer with Alzheimer's disease increases every year. Edith and Derrick were married for 50 years and this year would have been their Golden Wedding anniversary. Sadly she suffered with dementia but I think it^s better that the patients are allowed to remain at home provided they don^t put themselves in danger.^

Before recording a verdict that the cause of Mrs Batton^s death was unascertained, Mr Rose added: ^She^d gotten onto the railway line and laid down. People suffering with hypothermia tent to feel they are over heating and often remove clothing. The pathologist couldn^t find the cause of death.^

A huge search operation was launched to locate Mrs Batten, including the police helicopter and dogs and the Burnham Area Rescue Boat.