A man has been arrested and bailed over the unexplained death of 53-year-old parish council clerk Patricia Owens.

The body of Ms Owens was found at her home in Chilson, near Chipping Norton, on Friday night, but the circumstances surrounding her death continue to baffle detectives.

A post mortem examination has proved inconclusive and police are waiting on the outcome of further forensic tests.

Today police would not say what the man had been arrested on suspicion of.

In addition to her role as clerk to Chilson Parish Council, Ms Owens was involved with the local church, but residents said she was a largely private woman.

The discovery of Ms Owens' body at her Sunnybank Cottage home has shocked the west Oxfordshire hamlet.

Ms Owens' neighbour and mother-of-three Charlotte Boston, 38, said: "I knew her, but she kept herself to herself. She helped at the local church and toddler group.

"This has come as such a shock, it's horrible.

"Police haven't told us much and people are saying that she was murdered. It's a real mystery and horrible to think it happened.

"I had a phone call for her on Friday at the time of her death.

"It was a wrong number, they sounded desperate and cut me off in mid-sentence."

Residents reported a "continuous and initially heavy" police presence since Saturday morning.

Tracey Ashworth, 25, who lives off the main road, said: "It has come as a shock. She was the parish clerk, so she was well known in the village.

"It is a very quiet place and everyone knows each other."

Chilson has about 20 houses, many of which are used as weekend cottages, and is nearly deserted during the week.

Mrs Boston's husband, Johnny, 46, said: "I didn't really now her. This a particularly small place and if someone dies unexpectedly you can imagine most people would be talking about it."

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: "The investigation into her movements leading up to her death continues.

"Police are particularly interested to speak to people who were in Chilson between 6pm and 9pm on Friday."

Anybody with information should call Ds Dick White on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.