A WOMAN who took her life using cyanide in an apparent suicide pact reportedly lived just yards from the luxury Edinburgh hotel where her body was found.

The woman, named locally as Daria Kuchan, was found dead at the Scotsman Hotel in North Bridge on Thursday along with a male companion.

It was reported police combing her flat at World's End Close, off the Royal Mile, found Ms Kuchan - who was in her 40s - had removed all of her belongings before checking in to the hotel last Monday. A note is understood to have been found detailing family problems.

Police are still trying to trace Ms Kuchan's relatives, who are believed to be Czech, Polish or Russian.