A MAN in his 30s was in police custody today after the launch of a murder investigation in the Quantock Hills.

A woman in her 80s died at a property in Broomfield on Monday evening following a report of a ‘burglary in progress’.

Police attended at about 5.45 pm and found the woman badly injured.

She died at the scene despite the efforts of paramedics to save her.

The man held by police was arrested in the Broomfield area in connection with the incident about three hours later with help from the Avon and Somerset Police helicopter and a dog unit.

A police spokesman said the woman’s next of kin had been informed and specially trained family liaison officers were providing the family with support.

Specialist crime scene investigators were examining the property today while a forensic post-mortem examination was due to be carried out to determine how the woman died.

The parish church in Broomfield, on the Quantock Hills. (Google Maps)

Neighbourhood Chief Inspector Justin French said: “A cordon is in place while inquiries are carried out and there will be increased police activity in the area while a full and thorough investigation is carried out by our Major Crimes Investigations Team.

“We understand that events like this, while rare, may cause alarm and distress in the community.

“We would encourage anybody with any concerns to speak to our officers, who will be out on high-visibility patrols of the area, with any concerns and questions they may have.

“Alternatively, they can contact their local neighbourhood policing team.”

Anybody with any information which could help the police investigation, and who has yet to speak to officers, is asked to call 101 and quote reference 5223071427 to the call handler.

The Rector of Broomfield, the Rev Dr Mary Styles, said she had been providing pastoral care for villagers mainly by telephone because she was unable to reach many residents due to the police activity in the village.

Dr Styles, who knew the woman who had died, said: "We are all feeling shocked and sick, but the community have been pulling together and looking after each other."

She was hoping access to the parish church would be available by the weekend, when it was tentatively planned to hold a service for residents to come together.