The discovery of two bodies at a house in the village has rocked Ropley, near Alresford.

Police launched a murder inquiry after Elizabeth Francis (83) and her daughter, Teresa (54), were found dead in Wykeham House, in Petersfield Road, Ropley, last Thursday night.

Neighbours were shocked to find police and scenes-of-crime officers in protective suits outside the cordoned-off house on Friday morning.

John Wyatt, who runs Dean Stores in Ropley and has lived in the village for 30 years, said: "We were all completely shocked by the news. Everyone is mystified and can't comprehend what has happened or why.

"You might expect this in Birmingham or Manchester, but in a sedate residential place like Ropley, with its up-market appeal, you don't expect this to happen."

He said he had delivered newspapers to the Francis family for years and knew John Francis, Ellzabeth's late husband, well. A banker and fishing expert, Mr Francis died in March last year at the age of 91, leaving £1.4m to his family in his will.

Mrs Francis had lived alone in the large detached house since her husband's death, though her daughter, who had a house in nearby Alresford, visited frequently.

A friend of the family, who did not wish to be named, said: "Apparently, the day before she (Mrs Francis) died, she bought three goats to put in her back garden. It's sad, to think what the family must be going through."

The couple had two other children. John Francis (60), a retired army officer, lives about a mile away, also in Ropley.

An elderly neighbour of Elizabeth Francis added: "When you know someone quite well, it's pretty shocking."

Neighbours of Teresa, who lived in The Soke, in Alresford, were also shocked to hear of her death, but confirmed that she had not been not well known in the area.

Mark Conway, landlord of the nearby Globe on the Lake, described Teresa as "a bit of a loner, a bit of a recluse". He added: "She used to go on long walks in the countryside. I often used to see her out while I was driving. She kept herself to herself."

The house, which was bought for Teresa by her father some years ago, has been on the market for about six months.

The Revd Royston Such, Vicar of Ropley, said he knew Teresa Francis, as she was a regular churchgoer. "I liked her a lot. She and her father used to come to church together and Teresa was certainly devout and her faith supported her in all sorts of ways."

He added that the tragedy involved women "known and loved in the community" and was particularly sad because of the violence of their death. "That makes it all the worse for those left behind," he said.

However, Mr Such was keen to point out that Ropley was not a close-knit village. "Though some will feel the loss keenly, for others, it won't touch their lives in quite the same way," he said.

l A 24-year-old Ropley man has appeared in court charged with murdering his grandmother and aunt.

Christopher Francis spoke only to confirm his name and address at the hearing in Aldershot Magistrates' Court on Tuesday. He was charged with killing his grandmother, Elizabeth Francis and aunt, Teresa Francis

He is alleged to have killed the two women at Elizabeth Francis's home on the evening on December 12th.

Fair-haired Francis, of Leafield House, Dunsell's Lane, wore a red shirt and V-neck jumper and was flanked by two prison guards in the dock.

There was no objection to the prosecution's application for him to be remanded in custody. He is due to appear again in Winchester Crown Court today (Friday).