The BBC's Mike McKay reports on Tuesday's events

The body of 70-year-old Alice Kitchen was dug up in Hyde cemetery in the early hours of Wednesday.

Mrs Kitchen, known as Christine, was the mother of a local councillor in Tameside, Greater Manchester.

She died in June 1994 and her death is officially recorded as due to a stroke.

So far eight bodies have been exhumed in the investigation into Tameside GP Harold Shipman, who was committed for trial on murder charges on Tuesday.

Only hours before his committal, the body of 67-year-old Irene Turner was removed from Hyde cemetery for tests.

Another exhumation is expected later in the week.

Murder trial

Magistrates in Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside, committed Dr Shipman for trial at Manchester Crown Court on 8 December charged with killing 81-year-old Kathleen Grundy, one of his patients.

He is accused of forging her will and two other letters to make himself the sole beneficiary of her £300,000 estate.

Dr Shipman, 52, who ran a practice in Hyde, is being held on remand.

He has also been charged with murdering three other patients, Winifred Mellor and Joan Melia, both 73, and Bianka Pomfret, 49.

Magistrates adjourned these charges for committal proceedings to take place on 7 December.

More exhumations

The BBC's Nick Garnett reports from Manchester

Police are awaiting the results of tests on Marie Quinn, 67, and Ivy Lomas, 63.