Police are appealing for witnesses following the death of a woman in Merton.

Police were called at approximately 01:10hrs on Sunday, 29 December to reports of a person on fire by the level crossing on West Barnes Lane, New Malden.

Officers, London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade attended and the fire was extinguished. The person, a woman believed aged 18, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers believe they know the identity of the deceased and next of kin have been informed.

A post-mortem examination will be arranged in due course; formal identification awaits.

The death is being treated as unexplained at this time, however early indications would suggest that it is not suspicious.

The cause of the fire and circumstances of the death are being investigation by officers from the Homicide and Serious Crime Command and the LFB.

At this early stage it is believed the fire started in a nearby residential property in Linkway.

Officers will be carrying out house-to-house enquiries on Monday 30 December.

Any witnesses or anyone with any information that could assist police should speak to police tomorrow at the scene or call 101.

In particular we would like to speak to three members of the public who assisted in trying to save the woman’s life by trying to extinguish the flames at the time of the incident.