This is the first photograph of Galleywood widow Violet Dunderdale, 77, to be released since she was found battered to death at her home last Monday.

Police hunting her killers are awaiting the results of further forensic tests as they continue house-to-house investigations.

A 35-year-old man was arrested and later released and sectioned under the Mental Health Act after the incident in Archers Way, on the Barnard Road estate.

A post-mortem examination has revealed that Mrs Dunderdale died from head injuries.

Essex coroner Dr Malcolm Weir has not yet released her body to the family for a funeral.

Mrs Dunderdale's son, Peter, and daughter-in-law, Pat, have spoken exclusively to the Essex Chronicle as they come to terms with the tragedy.

Father-of-three Peter Dunderdale said he was on business in Canada when his wife Pat rang last Monday to break the tragic news that his 77-year-old widowed mother had died.

"I caught the first plane back, but I did not know she had been brutally murdered until I arrived home," said Mr Dunder-dale, who had been abroad for three weeks.

Police sealed off the murder house in Archers Way last Monday after Violet Dunderdale's battered body was discovered and carried out a forensic and fingerprint search by scenes of crime officers.

The Dunderdales said Violet did not have an enemy in the world. Mr Dunderdale described his mother as a popular and said she loved to bake cakes for friends.

"We just cannot think of a motive, apart from theft. The police have sealed up her house so we don't know if anything was stolen," said Mr Dunderdale.

Five years ago Mrs Dunderdale and her late husband, Joseph, who died three years ago from cancer at the age of 77, moved from Brentwood into a mid-terrace house in Archers Way, so they could be close to Peter and Pat who live nearby on the Barnard Road estate.

Daughter-in-law Pat said: "She was a wonderful character and acted younger than her years. Violet was known as 'nanny' to everyone, not just her family, and would bake cakes for anyone who helped or did her a favour.

"We used to go to the local social club for all sorts of events, such as bingo, and she had lots of friends because she was a lady who liked having a laugh and a joke.

"Nanny has four grandchildren, three from us and one from her daughter Mrs Pat Philips who comes from Berkshire and we all adored her, everybody loved nanny."

Police hunting her killers are awaiting the results of further forensic tests as they continue house-to-house investigations.

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