DETECTIVES investigating the "unexplained death" of Chilson Parish Council clerk Patricia Owens have all but ruled out murder.

Ms Owens, 53, was found dead at her Sunnybank home in the hamlet near Chipping Norton on Friday night.

An initial post-mortem proved inconclusive and detectives are now awaiting results of toxicology tests.

A man arrested following her death has been released on police bail, but a police source said they were unlikely to launch a murder investigation.

Last night police would not say on what charge the man had been arrested.

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 know 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 Det Sgt Dick White on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.