A pensioner arrested over his wife's death has been released without charge, police said today.

The 72-year-old was held by detectives after the woman's body was discovered at their Ashford house.

Police were called to the property in Ripley Road, Willesborough, by paramedics on Saturday afternoon.

Officers arrested the man in connection with the death of his wife, who is believed to have been in her 60s.

Kent Police today said the man was released as her death was now considered non-suspicious.

A spokesman said: "Police are no longer investigating and the matter is now with the coroner to determine the cause of death."

Yesterday, several police officers remained at the house more than 24 hours after the body was discovered.

Residents said the continuing length of time officers have been at the scene made them realise the seriousness of the incident before the death was made public.

Alison Sherewood, who lives across the road, said: "I had got back to my house at 2.50pm that afternoon and I saw an ambulance and police cars.

"I wondered what was going on, but I went straight out again to my daughter's place.

"I came back at about 6pm and the ambulance was gone and there were still several police cars. I. That made me realise this was probably something really serious if they were here for so long. I have never seen so many police cars in one place anyway.

"It was only this morning that I heard the news about the death."

Others in the Willesborough street said the dead woman and her husband had lived in the street for about 15 years.

Many said they knew little about them, but commented on the length of time police were present.

One man, who did not want to be named, said: "I remember the ambulance being there from 12.30 to 4pm yesterday and then a forensics team was there at midnight.

"There has been some kind of police presence constantly since this happened."

Police were called to the house by South East Coast Ambulance Service at 12.25pm after the discovery of the woman's body.