Police investigating the alleged murder of a man in a north Essex village were today (Wednesday) still questioning a 35-year-old woman.

She was taken by police car from an address in Alresford at about 12 noon yesterday.

She was later arrested and held at Clacton police station, where she remains today.

At about 9.40am yesterday police and ambulance crews had been called by neighbours to a terraced house in Ford Lane in the village.

The body of Tony Honisett, 49, was discovered on the kitchen floor. A doctor certified him dead a few hours later.

Scenes of crime officers carried out a detailed search of the house and a murder investigation was launched.

A knife was discovered under a hedge outside the house and taken away for forensic examination.

At 3.15pm Mr Honisett's body was taken away by private ambulance to Colchester General Hospital where a post mortem examination was carried out. The results were due to be released today.

Police had cordoned off the crime scene and houses on the other side were sealed with tape.

Detectives carried out house to house inquiries and an incident room was set up in Stanway.

Detective Superintendent Dick Madden, who is leading the investigation, said: "A woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder but we are keeping an open mind."

Villagers stunned as police investigate body's discovery

Villagers were today (Wednesday) still reeling from shock after murder squad detectives launched an investigation into the death of a man in Alresford.

People living near the death scene said they could not believe Tony Honisett had been allegedly killed in his own home in Ford Lane.

Pensioners said they felt frightened and some said they would not feel safe in their own houses for some time.

Eileen Metson, 70, who has lived in Ford Lane for nearly 50 years, said: "There has never been anything like this before. People are normally friendly and help each other. It's a nice village."

Phyllis Rainbow, 81, who lives in nearby Worcester Crescent, added: "I was surprised to see the police there. We never see a policeman in the village. I've been here 30 years and it's normally quite quiet. We are all shocked and frightened."

Robert Green, who lives in Ford Lane, said: "This is completely out of the blue. I went out at 8.45am and returned at 12 noon and there were police cars everywhere. I wondered what the hell was going on."

Another woman, who lives just a few doors down from the scene but did not wish to be named, said: "It's awful that something like this could happen here."

As Mr Honisett's body was carried out of the house into a waiting private ambulance at 3.15pm yesterday, mums were waiting to pick up their young children just yards away at nearby Alresford Primary School.

Many could not believe what had happened and tried to shield their children from the scene as they walked past.

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