Man arrested on suspicion of murder after woman in Chelmsford dies

Flowers have been left at the scene

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a woman died in Essex.

Police were called to Dorset Avenue in Great Baddow, Chelmsford, on Friday to reports of a "suspicious male".

Officers engaged with a man in Readers Court, where they found a seriously injured woman inside a property.

Despite the efforts of paramedics, the woman in her 60s was pronounced dead at the scene. A 47-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody.

Police put up barriers and cordoned off a section of the site

Det Ch Supt Rob Kirby, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: "I know that this will cause this quiet community great concern and fully understand they will have questions about what has happened, but I would ask that people don't speculate.

"We are working to establish the facts leading up to the woman's death and we will remain at the scene whilst we carry out our inquiries.

"I would like to reassure the community that we will be conducting high visibility patrols in the Great Baddow area for several days."

John MacDonald, who lives opposite the cordoned-off flat, described the incident as "tragic".

"I work upstairs and I heard the (air ambulance) helicopter landing and that's the first thing I knew," he said.

"It's the first time, as far as I'm aware, we've had something of this nature here. It's not very pleasant."

Paula Goddard, who also lives on the estate, added: "It's concerning but I walk around here when it's dark and never feel unsafe."

Det Ch Supt Kirby asked anyone with information or footage from Readers Court and Dorset Avenue to contact Essex Police.