19 January 2024 , 11:00
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Police have launched an investigation following the death of a woman found unresponsive on a busy high street.
Officers are currently treating the death as unexplained.
Emergency crews were called to scene following a report of a woman found unresponsive in Ashford High Street in Ashford, Kent at 11.20pm on Thursday.
Police and paramedics were sent to the scene, and the woman was later pronounced dead.
A witness has reported that about 10 officers and three police cars are at the scene.
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A large area of the high street has been sealed off by police and remained closed on Friday, with a McDonald's and Wetherspoons among the businesses forced to close. Parents described being told to "walk around" with their children to get to school in the morning.
A Kent Police spokesperson said: "Police were called following a report a woman had been found unresponsive in Ashford high street.
"Officers attended along with the ambulance service and the woman was later pronounced deceased. The death is currently being treated as unexplained and officers remain in the area carrying out enquiries."
The owner of Soundcraft Hi-Fi, a local electronics business located along the high street, said he had been asked not to open his shop until he was told he could do so. Geoff Mathews said: "We understand there was a serious incident last night in the Lower High Street at about 11pm. The whole of the town centre is cordoned off. A colleague is already at the shop, I'm about to go in, but police have said to us please don't open until we say when."
The Lower High Street, top end of Bank Street and part of the Upper High Street are all closed off. A police cordon is expected to be removed later on Friday, according to an officer speaking to reporters at the scene.