POLICE are still awaiting the results of tests carried out on a 37-year-old woman found dead in a caravan near Penryn last week.

The body of Deborah Anne Thomas was discovered at an unofficial caravan site on the A39 between the Treluswell and Treilever Cross roundabouts on Wednesday of last week. A 51-year-old man was arrested but later released without charge. Police are still investigating the death as "unexplained".

Miss Thomas is believed to come from Falmouth, but was known to have lived at addresses in Truro and Mount Hawke.

Police and paramedics were called to the scene just before 11pm, arriving to find Miss Thomas dead in one of the four semi-permanent caravans on site.

There was a forensic post-mortem the following day but police say it was inconclusive and say it could take weeks before further results can determine the exact cause of death.

The police Tactical Aid Group investigated the crime scene using line searches and sniffer dogs, but this is standard procedure for investigating an unexplained death said force spokeswoman Sharon Newman.

Mrs Thomas moved to the unofficial site eight and a half weeks ago with her partner who is a crane operator, according to another site resident who did not want to be named.

The 41-year-old said neighbours waked him on the night to say that Miss Thomas had stopped breathing. "I jumped out of bed and rushed round there and tried for 10 minutes giving her CPR and mouth to mouth until the paramedics arrived, but her lips were already blue. It was too late - she was already gone.

"It is really sad, Deborah was a lovely girl and really easy to talk to," he said.

The former mechanic and surveyor says he was made homeless two and a half years ago and now lives with his son and former partner in adjoining caravans whilst he is waiting to be housed. "I live here with my 11-year-old son, he doesn't need stuff like this around him," he said.

The site was opened up as a picnic site to serve the highway 23 years ago, but has been used as an unofficial caravan site by various people for the past few years.

Cornwall county council says it is unofficial and is under review by their legal team, but nearby residents say they have never experienced any problems from the people living there and that the land is well looked after.

Police say that enquiries into Miss Thomas's death are ongoing.