DETECTIVES have not ruled out the possibility that a tragic accident could have caused the death of a Hampshire woman last night.

Ambulance crews were called to Cadhay Close in New Milton yesterday afternoon after a 43-year-old woman was found with serious head injuries.

She died in hospital late last night and police immediately launched a murder investigation.

A 42-year-old man was arrested and is still being questioned by police this afternoon.

But Detective Inspector Nick Heelan, who is leading the investigation, said this afternoon: “It is too early to say whether this is a crime we are dealing with or a tragic accident.

“We would therefore appeal to anyone who was in the area of Cadhay Close anytime between 1and 6pm yesterday afternoon and may have heard or seen something that will assist us with our enquiries, to contact us as a matter of urgency.”

Medics arrived at the scene at around 5pm yesterday and rushed the woman to Southampton General Hospital. Police confirmed today that she died from her injuries at around 11.30pm.

A police photographer visited the murder scene this morning and took several photographs of the area, including an alleyway behind the dead woman's house.

A uniformed officer stood guard at the entrance to the alley, part of which was cordoned off. Shortly afterwards, a team of plain clothed officers arrived to interview neighbours, most of whom were out.

They were joined at the scene by several colleagues who donned white boiler suits before entering the house.

DI Heelan added: “I would like to reassure residents of New Milton that they should not fear for their personal safety, as this appears from our early enquiries to be very much an isolated incident. This is a standard procedure we follow until the exact circumstances of the death are established.”

The Coroner has been informed and a Home Office Pathologist is expected to carry out a post-mortem examination on the woman’s body later this afternoon.

Anyone with information that might assist the investigation should contact the major Crime Department at Hulse Road on 101, or anonymously on the Crimestoppers charity line, 0800 555 111.