Police Scotland is facing more pressure following the death of an elderly woman who was found next to the body of her 88-year-old husband 20 hours after the alarm was first raised.

An independent investigation was been launched into the force's response to a call which led to the discovery of the of body Douglas Iggulden.

His 89-year-old wife, Elizabeth, was found seriously ill and was taken to hospital where she died on Friday evening.

Officers went to a property in Adelphi Place, in the Portobello area of Edinburgh, after concern was raised about the welfare of the occupants.

Superintendent Alan Porte said: "Police Scotland can confirm that a woman in her 80s passed away on Friday, October 2 at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

"Our condolences are with her family at this time and we continue to offer support to them as required.

"This death is in connection with an incident that occurred within a property on Adelphi Place on Sunday, September 27. The death is currently being treated as unexplained, however the circumstances are not believed to be suspicious.

"A report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal."

The Crown Office has directed the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner to look into Police Scotland's initial response to the call to the address.

The incident is the latest in a series which have called into question the efficiency of the force's lines of communication, including the M9 scandal where couple Lamara Bell and John Yuill lay undiscovered for three days after a call reporting their crash was ignored for three days.

It has also emerged that the PIRC is currently reviewing a case in which a possible sighting of a missing 88-year-old woman was not followed up by officers.

Janet McKay's body was discovered in Clydebank more than a week after she was seen leaving her home in the Knightswood area of Glasgow.

Labour Justice spokesman Graeme Pearson insisted the time for "soft words" was over.

He said: "We're being repeatedly told there is no crisis by Police and the Justice Secretary. But the amount of incidents in recent times make it clear that something needs to be done.

"I can't remember the situation being this bad for 40 years. All of the families who have been affected want an explanation and they want it as quickly as possible."

A spokesman for the PIRC said: "The Commissioner has been instructed by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) to carry out an independent investigation into the initial response by Police Scotland to a call to attend at a residential address in Portobello on Sunday 27 September 2015.

"Following a report of concern about the welfare of the occupants at the property, officers arrived to find the body of an 88-year-old man and a seriously ill 89-year-old woman, who remains in hospital.

"A report on the Commissioner's findings will be submitted to the COPFS in due course."

ends