Police in Munich discovered the mummified remains of an 83-year-old woman in the same bed her daughter had continued to sleep in for five years.

Police said the pensioner passed away in 2009, but that her daughter had never reported her death to friends and neighbours.

A social worker in the Blumenau borough raised the alarm when neighbours said they had not seen the 83-year-old in a long time.

The social worker tried to arrange a visit to the 55-year-old daughter by phone, and after countless excuses called over to her apartment.

When she refused to open her door, the social worker called the police. The fire service broke down her door and discovered the remains of the pensioner in the bed the daughter had been sharing.

The daughter, who is now in psychiatric care, has now admitted that her mother died in March, 2009, and an autopsy ruled out foul play.