Residents react to dog walker's murder

Alan Goodridge still believes Brantham is safe despite the death of Anita Rose

Village residents have described an attack where a dog walker was killed as "frightening", "shocking" and unheard of.

Anita Rose, 57, was found unconscious on a track in Brantham, Suffolk at 06:25 BST on Wednesday after suffering serious head injuries.

She died in Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge on Sunday and a 45-year-old man from Ipswich, who had already been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, was re-arrested on suspicion of murder.

Police are continuing to search the area where the attack happened and people have spoken about how they are feeling in the wake of Ms Rose's death.

Alan Goodridge, 79, said: "It's quite frightening.

"It was initial horror that some poor lady was out walking her dog and that happened to her."

Mr Goodridge said he used to walk and go fishing near where the incident happened but still believed the village was a "safe area".

"These things happen from time to time no matter where you live," he continued.

"It's just an unfortunate time for it to happen here.

"It's nice to have a police presence especially when things [like this] are happening at the moment."

Jacqueline Manners is a frequent dog walker in the area and passed Ms Rose from time to time

Jacqueline Manners, who also lives in the village, said she was walking her dog, Bonnie, when she heard what had happened.

She had interacted with Ms Rose from time to time.

"My friend called me and said please don't go across the fields around there because she had heard what had happened," she explained.

"I was shocked, really shocked."

Mrs Manners said she usually walked in that area between 06:00 and 07:00 BST each morning.

That day her husband walked their dog and took a different route nearby.

"He feels guilty that he didn't go up that way because she was probably laying there but it was probably at the time people found her anyway at six thirty," she continued.

"I didn't know her but I knew her dog Bruce, because Bruce loved Bonnie.

"I passed her a lot and spoke to her a lot like any dog walker."

Mrs Manners added she would not be walking in that area for the time being.

Officers have been in the village on Monday conducting searches and investigations

Alastair McCraw encouraged residents to remain vigilant in the area

Alastair McCraw, 67, is an independent district councillor at Babergh District Council for the Brantham parish.

"I'm in shock," he said.

"Everybody knows that this is a quiet village where people can walk their dogs in peace... this is nothing normal in anyone's experience."

"We're so desperately sorry for the family."

Mr McCraw said despite the reassuring police presence many residents were still currently worried.

"People are aware of the police presence and they expect it to be here for a few days," he added.

"It is meant to reassure and I think it does.

"I invite people to be careful, look out for themselves in any circumstances and look after each other."

Chloe Moore says people in the area are feeling shocked

Chloe Moore, who works at Chloe's Cafe off Blenheim Close in the village with her family, said a neighbour informed them of what had happened.

She said: "We looked it up on the news and we saw it there.

"It was really shocking, you just don't expect it around here.

"It's such a quiet village."

Ms Rose's family say she was "loved in the community"

Officers are conducting investigations in the village

Ms Rose was found on the track, between the railway line and the sewage works, by a member of the public at about 06:25 on Wednesday.

Police believe she left home at about 05:00 to walk her springer spaniel Bruce.

The dog was with Ms Rose when she was found - and police have confirmed he was safe and well.

Paramedics rang the police who arrived shortly after 08:00 before a cordon was put in place.

Investigators were keen to find Ms Rose's Apple iPhone - which has since been recovered - but were still searching for a pink zip-up jacket they think she was wearing immediately prior to the incident.

Ms Rose's family said she was "loved in the community" and they had been "robbed of so much time with her".

A 37-year-old woman from the Ipswich area was also arrested on Saturday on suspicion of handling stolen goods in connected with the incident.

She, along with the 45-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder, have been released on police bail with conditions to return on 25 October.

Suffolk Police issued a picture of Anita Rose, wearing her pink jacket, as she walked with her dog Bruce