A British woman in her 20s has been found dead behind a church in France.

The woman, who has not been named, is understood to have been on holiday in Normandy at the time of her death.

She was found by a walker around 9am this morning on the rocks below the St-Nicolas church in Barfleur, where she was reportedly staying with her partner.

Sources close to the investigation told Ouest France that the woman is believed to have drowned. The church overlooks the Channel.

Criminal investigators joined forensic and research reams, as well as gendarmerie, at the scene before the body was removed for autopsy this afternoon.

The cause of death was initially ‘somewhat unclear’, France3 reports. 

The woman’s partner was taken into care, local media reports.They were reportedly staying with her family in a rented cottage near the port.

File photo: Barfleur in Normandy, France. Undated.

File photo: Barfleur in Normandy, France. Undated.

File photo: The Saint Nicolas church in Barfleur, Normandy. Undated.

File photo: The Saint Nicolas church in Barfleur, Normandy. Undated.

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Police are now conducting interviews as part of their investigation.

Authorities were still on the scene around 2pm, according to Le Manche Libre.

Barfleur is a small fishing village of some 700 residents in the north of France, largely untouched by tourism and rated one of the country’s most attractive communes.

MailOnline approached the local gendarmerie for comment. 

This news is breaking: more to follow. 

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British woman in her 20s ‘is found dead behind church during family holiday to France’