A murder probe has been launched after a woman in her 80s died suddenly - shocking neighbours.

Viney Avenue in Romsey is usually your typical quiet suburban road.

But this was upturned on Wednesday when an elderly woman was found dead in a house - causing police officers and forensics teams to descend on the road shortly after 9am, remaining there overnight.

As part of their investigation, officers arrested a 65-year-old man from Romsey on suspicion of murder before releasing him on bail until September 26.

Speaking yesterday, a veteran resident of Viney Avenue said she has not seen this many police on her doorstep in the five decades she has lived there.

Describing the incident as "very worrying", she added: "They even came to the door and asked if we had seen or heard anything - but unfortunately we weren’t able to help them.

"When we heard the word murder, it was a shock - it really was; seeing all the police I said to my son, 'what an earth is going on'.

"There have been police up and down the road since. When the police came to our door, they asked if we had CCTV.

"We don’t have that sort of thing, but I’m certainly considering it now as I said we just don’t know what happens behind closed doors."

Paramedics were the first responders at the scene - and were the ones that called police at 9.23am on Wednesday.

Officers confirmed the woman was dead when they arrived.

Another neighbour of 17 years added: "Whatever happens seem to go down on Tuesday night.

"I was working the nightshift and woke up and opened the curtains to see all the police here.

"You just don’t expect someone to be nicked for murder a few doors away from where you live."

Police say 'enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances of what happened'.

Speaking before the news of the man's arrest, a resident of Viney Avenue for 30 years said: "I went out for a cigarette this morning and noticed a few coppers walking up and down the road.

"They have been here all morning. I was shocked at how many there were."

The news also prompted politicians to weigh in on what happened.

Cllr Mark Cooper, who represents Romsey Town on Hampshire County Council, said: “It will be a very worrying time for the immediate neighbourhood and I hope Hampshire Constabulary follow through and resolve matters quickly and efficiently.”