Jaywick dog attack: Esther Martin's death causes 'terrible shock'

Esther Martin's daughter has thanked neighbours who tried to save her mother's life

People living near a home where a grandmother died following a dog attack have been describing their "terrible shock".

Esther Martin, 68, was on a visit to see her grandson when she was killed in Jaywick, near Clacton-on-Sea, on Saturday afternoon.

Essex Police destroyed two dogs and arrested Ashley Warren on suspicion of dangerous dog offences.

The 39-year-old has been released on conditional police bail until March.

"I would hate to have even seen what went on in [the house]," said Dan Casey, who is also a long-serving independent councillor for Jaywick on Tendring District Council.

"To think she actually lost her life as well - that's the tragedy of it all."

Hillman Avenue remained cordoned off while police investigated the fatal incident

Floral tributes were near the address on Hillman Avenue on Monday as a police cordon remained in place.

Mary Donovan, who moved to the area four years ago, told BBC Essex the incident was "a terrible shock for everyone".

"We can't express the sadness and grief for the family [enough], but for everyone in Jaywick Sands it is a terrible shock," she said.

"I've left flowers, people have left flowers; it's just an awful thing to have happened. It happened right here on our doorsteps."

Mary Donovan said the community was in a state of "terrible shock"

Mr Warren was the partner of one of Ms Martin's daughters, who died about two years ago.

Speaking to the BBC, one of her other daughters, Sonia Martin, claimed the pets that killed her mother were an unregistered XL bully breed.

She said her mother, from Woodford Green, in north-east London, was told by the dogs' owner to intervene with a broom if puppies in the house started fighting.

Ms Martin believed it was at that point her mother was attacked.

Ashley Warren was arrested and released on conditional police bail

Lucy Shaw, 38, who lives in a property behind the address, said she heard screaming for about 10 minutes.

"We went out into the garden and it was all quiet and then we heard dogs barking, and then we heard someone screaming," she said.

"We went back in after a while because it sounded horrific."

Ch Supt Glen Pavelin has urged anyone with information to contact Essex police.