Daughter held after couple are beaten to death

A pensioner described as a "dear old gentleman" and his frail, reclusive wife were beaten to death in their bungalow in a quiet suburban street in Bournemouth, police said. Arthur and Joan Toop's 52-year-old daughter, named as Susan, a nurse, was arrested on suspicion of murder.

She was found in the house with serious injuries and is under police guard in hospital. A neighbour, who asked not to be named, said Mrs Toop, who was in her 70s, was "very reclusive" but Mr Toop, in his 80s and known as Bob, would often be seen gardening or walking his dogs.

"He was a lovely, dear old gentleman but he recently had heart surgery and he couldn't walk the dogs, so the daughter would do it," she said.