RELATIVES of a woman found dead in her North Yorkshire flat today spoke of their grief, as detectives sought to unravel the mystery of her death.

Police have been carrying out house-to-house inquiries, and are awaiting the results of forensic tests as they investigate how Malton woman Colleen Gibb died.

Paramedics were called to her home at The Maltings, Castlegate, at 6.45pm on Sunday, when she was pronounced dead. A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said a post-mortem examination by a Home Office pathologist revealed that Mrs Gee, 46, had not died of natural causes.

Further forensic tests have been carried out on the mother-of-three. The police spokesman said the results of forensic tests could take between ten days and six weeks to come back.

Mrs Gee had lived in Malton for 15 years and was originally from Sydney, Australia.

Her brother, Martin Walsh, who works for City of York Council, said: "Colleen was a wonderful person who was very much loved by the whole of her family. Her sudden death has come as a great shock to all." He said the family were deeply distressed, and asked for people to respect their grief.

The officer leading the investigation into her death, Detective Superintendent Barry Honeysett, said: "I still have an open mind into the exact nature of the death. House-to-house inquiries are ongoing.

"I would appeal for witnesses who saw Mrs Gee between 10am on Saturday, January 15, and 5.45pm on Sunday, January 16, to call 01723 509352."

The police spokesman said that the coroner for North Yorkshire East, Michael Oakley, had been informed.

Mike Williams, who runs Castle News, Castlegate, said there had been a lot of police activity around The Maltings at 3.15pm on Monday and that he had heard a woman had died.

A neighbour of Mrs Gee's, who did not wish to be named, said: "It's very sad. I used to see her to say hello, but I didn't really know her to talk to."

Updated: 10:41 Wednesday, January 19, 2005