Woman in her 80s is murdered in Chipping Campden in the Cotswolds: Detectives arrest man she knew

An elderly woman was killed in a quiet Cotswold market town in the early hours of this morning. 

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is now in police custody.

Police were called to High Street, Chipping Campden, at around 12.30am where a woman in her 80s was found with head injuries. She later died from her wounds.

Her next of kin and the coroner have been informed.

Police were called to High Street, Chipping Campden (pictured) at around 12.30am where a woman in her 80s was found with head injuries. She later died from her wounds

Gloucestershire Constabulary have said their Major Crime Investigation Team is in the early stages of an investigation

Gloucestershire Constabulary have said their Major Crime Investigation Team is in the early stages of an investigation.

Officers are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with information to make contact with police.

The alleged victim and murderer involved in the incident are believed to be known to each other, the force said.

Officers said they are not currently seeking anyone else in connection with the investigation at this time.

Local residents in the picturesque village have said they are ‘shocked’ by the murder as police spoke to them today to reassure them following the incident.

Two police cars were present in the street today while plainclothes detectives and uniformed officers spoke to local businesses to alert them to the incident.

Posts on the village’s local Facebook group ‘Chipping Campden Notice Board’ paid tribute to the unnamed lady who was apparently well known in the village.

Police vans and officers have been photographed outside the scene on Chipping Campden this morning

One elderly local business owner described the victim as an ‘absolutely lovely lady well known by residents here in the village’ and said that it was ‘shocking and extremely sad that she was killed’.

Other residents have expressed their shock that the incident took place in such an unlikely location.

Another local resident said: ‘I didn’t even know about the killing until this morning when my sister texted me about it after seeing it on the news.

‘I’ve seen people posting on social media about the victim but nobody is saying anything about who she was or what happened.’

Another local business owner said: ‘Some people seem to know who she was, and have been posting tributes saying that she was “such a nice lady” etc, but apart from that we’ve only spoken to the police.

‘It’s such a shock to Campden, it’s just a terrible shame that it was somebody that she knew. I just feel for the family – we’re quite a close community.

‘My children went to school here and so you just worry you might have known the family or even them.’

Another local resident added: ‘I’ve only heard gossip. It’s just really weird – I expect we’ll find out more in a few days.’

Police vans and officers have been photographed outside the scene on Chipping Campden this morning.

Police said that members of the public can provide information online by completing the form on their website and quoting incident 8 of 6 January. 

They added that people with information can also call the police on 101.