POLICE investigating the attempted murder of Vivien Watson are today quizzing two people.

A 29-year-old Fareham man and a 24-year-old Gosport woman were arrested in Reading last night.

They are being held at separate police stations in Hampshire where detectives are questioning them over the attack on Mrs Watson.

The 43-year-old, pictured above, was found on a quiet bridlepath at Hambledon, near Portsmouth, on Tuesday by a dog walker who initially thought she was dead, but police at the scene off Old Winchester Hill Lane between East Meon and Hambledon were amazed to discover she was still breathing.

Miss Watson, of Mill End, Southbourne near Emsworth, is still in hospital with severe injuries.

The mother of four had been bludgeoned around the head and was lying in the middle of the track, near the Monarch's Way footpath.

Talking later Detective Superintendent John James said: "Whoever left her there thought she was dead."

Mrs Watson was identified on Tuesday morning by her husband Martin at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham.

She has three children by timber yard manager Mr Watson - two boys aged 17 and 10 plus a12-year-old girl.

A 25-year-old son by a previous husband currently lives in France.

More than 40 police officers are working on the case - codnamed Operation Glocester - and are following up a number of leads.

Torn clothing has been found half a mile from the crime scene - although police could not confirm whether the clothes are Mrs Watson's.

Investigators will today seek medical opinion on what could have caused Mrs Watson's head injuries.

They will also probe the nearby naval communications base SCU Leydene - on the old HMS Mercury site.

Officers hope the base CCTV footage may provide clues to the attempted murder.

They will also investigate Mrs Watson's lifestyle.

A police spokesman said: "We are speaking to her husband Martin and trying to piece together a picture of her life.

"She was last seen by her husband when he left for work on Monday.

"The absolute last sighting of her was at around midday by a member of her family".

Residents of the sleepy villages around Meon Valley have been shocked by the brutal attack.

Theresa Plowright works at the South Downs natural burial site, only yards from the incident.

She said: "Normally you don't see anybody round here apart from the occasional walker.

"You see things like this in the news but you don't expect it to happen at the end of the road. It is natural to feel a bit nervous.

"I normally work among the graves here on my own - but I won't do that again for the next few weeks".

Jill Atkinson, 65, of nearby Coombe Road said: "I walk up there frequently - it is very handy for dog training.

"I am horrified. I will think twice before going up there again".

56-year-old Jenny Wheeler has lived in picturesque East Meon for nearly 50 years.

The shop manager said: "I have never heard of anything like this happening here before.

"I was mortified to here about it. I cannot begin to believe it".