A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a woman's body was found at a home in West Molesey.

Police initially treated the death of the woman, aged 50, as unexplained. A 52-year-old man remains in police custody.

The woman's body was found in Walton Road at about 8am today after a member of the public raised the alarm, Surrey Police said.

A Surrey Police spokesman said: "The woman has not yet been formally identified and a post mortem to establish the cause of death will take place in due course.

"The investigation is still in the early stages."

The Kent, Sussex and Surrey Air Ambulance was also called to reports of an assault just before 8am.

One resident said: "I just saw the a helicopter land in the field by the Hurst Recreation Grounds."

A spokesman for the South East Coast Ambulance Service said that they attended with three ambulance cars and one ambulance after they were called at 8am.

 

MORE STORIES »

 

Police have taped off a large part of the green and Abbey Walk, opposite Majestic Wine Warehouse, while forensic officers investigate.

A tent has been set up outside the home, and police dogs have been called in.

One resident said: “It’s quite scary really. I didn’t notice anything until I went out.”

Alan Watkinson, 75, who lives near the edge of the cordoned off area, said: “My wife took the dog out at 7am this morning but didn’t see anything. It’s a bit bizarre. My wife’s a bit shocked.”

He added that police had told residents they would be at the site for a further two to three days.

Another resident said: “We don’t get murders round here.”

Facebook user Tracy Goddard, who lives in Spreighton Road, said: "Things like this don't happen in Molesey.... or so we all think. Horrible, just horrible. My thoughts go out to the victim's family."