Murder arrest in Chandler's Ford after woman, 81, found dead

Police and firefighters rushed to the leafy Malcolm Road, in Chandler's Ford, on Tuesday lunchtime where the woman was found dead at a home.

The scene was described as like that of a "warzone" by one neighbour who watched the incident unfold on the usually quiet street.

Police were initially called to the street over the concern for welfare of a woman, and attended alongside other emergency services.

The elderly woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Her next of kin has been informed.

Hampshire Constabulary has confirmed that an 81-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody.

Later in the day, forensics teams descended on the street, with one van remaining into Friday morning.

Police set up a cordon on the road yesterday afternoon, where residents of the quiet neighbourhood were left in shock.

READ MORE: Residents shocked as police descend on Chandler's Ford road

One neighbour recalled sees "six or seven police cars" on the road, saying that it "almost felt like a warzone" with the heavy police and ambulance presence.

Multiple told the Echo that they had been "told not to say anything" about the incident.

One resident in the neighbourhood said: "It almost felt like a warzone out here yesterday, six or seven police cars, ambulance, firefighters at one point too.

"At that stage they have to respond like that.

"We're a very close neighbourhood, we look after each other, so it’s a sad set of circumstances."

Malcolm Road, where police arrested an 81-year-old man on suspicion of murder. (Image: Newsquest) Another neighbour told the Echo that the road had been cordoned off yesterday with "crime scene techs" at the property "all day".

READ MORE: Police find body in search of missing 44-year-old woman

They said a "firefighter confirmed a death to a neighbour".

Another person living on Sherwood Road said that they were left in shock when they had heard somebody had died nearby.

Sherwood Road, where one resident described the neighbourhood as tight knit. (Image: Newsquest) They said: "We live in such a tight-knit neighbourhood that we’d want to know if there was any danger to our families, especially cause I’ve got young grandkids.

"My young grandkids run about and play in the neighbourhood all the time. We’ve never got any concern at what they’ll be up to when they’re out because it’s such a safe neighbourhood.

"From what we heard police reassured us that there was no further danger but something like this never ever happens around this neighbourhood."

Mitchell Lister was running through the neighbourhood, and while he made it clear that he is not from the area, he said he has never had to "worry about feeling unsafe" in the neighbourhood.