Villagers have spoken of their "alarm" as a man was arrested on suspicion of murder after a woman’s body was found in a West Oxfordshire village.

Thames Valley Police said officers were called on Monday, December 12, following the discovery of the woman in her 50s in a property in Windrush Place, Northmoor.

Her death is being treated as unexplained.

“Everybody’s been really eyes on stalks to see the ambulance and police there for several days; obviously concerned and wondering what’s happened," said parish council chairman Graham Shelton.

He said the reaction from the tight-knit community was “what you imagine it would be".

Detectives have arrested an Oxfordshire man, whose age has not been confirmed, on suspicion of murder.

He has been released on bail.

The death of the woman has shocked and bewildered the village.

Oxford Mail: Windrush Place in Northmoor Windrush Place in Northmoor (Image: Google)

Until the police statement on Friday morning, no official information was released about what had happened, said Mr Shelton.

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“I don’t think it has happened in living memory.

“It’s a big shock and a great surprise and, obviously, the police [have been doing] house to house enquiries and that of itself is a very alarming thing in a tiny village like this.

“But we are a community, we do work together, we do support each other.”

Another villager, who did not wish to be named, said: "All we knew was there was a lady and a man involved and the lady died and she was 52.

"People in the village have been talking about whether she had committed suicide or was murdered.

"There have been forensics officers in the village all week but they didn't come to our house and I had no idea what was going on. No one at the pub knew either.

"It was someone from another village who eventually told me he had been arrested. It's extremely out of the ordinary.

"Obviously I'm not comfortable about the fact there is a potential murderer around. I must admit I've been locking the doors."

In a statement, a spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: “The woman’s next of kin have been informed and are thoughts are with them.

“The death is being treated as unexplained and there is no danger to the public. The cause of death is yet to be established and enquiries continue.”

No information has been given on when police believe the woman had died.

The murder investigation is the fourth to be launched in Oxfordshire in the past two months.

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Detectives are currently investigating deaths in Banbury, and in Jericho and Wood Farm in Oxford.

 

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