THE murder of Julia Thurgarland, a churchwarden of St Radegund's, Maplebeck, is being investigated by Nottinghamshire Police.

Mrs Thurgarland, aged 70, was found at her home in Low Farm, in the village of Maplebeck, near Southwell, on Friday last week. She died from strangulation.

A 71-year-old man was found in the house on the same day, suffering from injuries. He was taken to Lincoln Hospital. On Wednesday evening, Nottinghamshire Police said that he had been taken into police custody where he would be questioned by detectives.

Detective Chief Inspector Tony Heydon, who is leading the investigation, said that the enquiries undertaken so far made him "quite certain this is an isolated incident".

The Priest-in-Charge of the Northern Lights Cluster of churches, which includes St Radegund's, the Revd Richard Seymour-Whiteley, said on Wednesday: "We wish to respect her family's privacy at this time and our prayers are with them."