THE husband of a woman found stabbed to death in a Hampshire park appeared in court today charged with her murder.

Peter Cooper, 71, of Highfield Lane, Southampton, appeared before New Forest magistrates having spent the past two days being quizzed over his wife Audrey's death.

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Mrs Cooper, a grandmother of two boys, was found after police were called to Romsey's War Memorial Park shortly after 11pm on Sunday night.

Mr Cooper was found nearby and arrested.

It is thought he was taken into custody a day later to be questioned.

In a five minute appearance at the court in Lyndhurst Mr Cooper, dressed in a brown pull over an dopen neck shirt, spoke only to confirm his name and address.

He was remanded in custody until Janaury 29 to appear at Winchester Crown Court.

Last night the couple's daughter Karen, their only child and the mother of their grandsons Ben and Jordan, paid tribute to her mother.

She said: "My mum was a kind and gentle person who had suffered from mental health problems in her later years. "The family are deeply saddened and shocked by what has happened and would request that we be allowed the privacy to come to terms with our loss.

"Mum and dad were married in Romsey Abbey in 1958 and celebrated their golden wedding anniversary last year.

"They had retired to Spain and spent ten very happy years there, returning to Southampton last year due to mum's deteriorating health."