A HAMPSHIE pensioner, arrested by police in connection with the death of his wife, has been detained under the Mental Health Act.

The 71-year-old man had been being questioned after her body was discovered at their Fareham home yesterday morning.

Ray Johnson was arrested after police were called to the couple's semi-detached bungalow in Lawrence Road following a 999 call.

There they found the body of Mary Johnson, believed to be in her late 60s.

Details of how she met her death have yet to released by police.

Police confirmed Mr Johnson had been detained for 28 days.

A spokesman said: "He is no longer being held in custody and has gone to a hospital where he will receive the treatment he needs.''

Yesterday the couple's home was cordoned off as forensic experts and scenes of crime officers carried out a fingertip search. Police also made house-to-house inquiries along the quiet residential road.

Neighbours spoke of their shock about what had happened. Ronald Shipp, 63, a postman, said: "Something like this is such a surprise. We have all lived here for a long time. It's a quiet road.

"Mary was a normal person. I would often see her going out in the car. They were nice people. Nobody seems to know what really happened."

Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, spoke of a 30-year-friendship with Mrs Johnson who she described as a "lovely neighbour."

"She was a good friend and loved going to car boot sales. It's tragic what has happened."

Another neighbour described the couple as being the "salt of the earth".

"Mr Johnson would always put out my rubbish bins even though he was ill with diabetes. He was kindness itself to me.

"I thought something must have happened when I saw the all the police activity outside the house when I went to get the paper. I put two and two together.

"I cannot believe something like this could have happened."

The retired couple had one daughter, believed to live locally, and two grand-children.

A Home Office pathologist was due to carry out a post mortem yesterday to establish the cause of death.

Formal identification of the dead woman has yet to take place before police continue their investigation.