Widow, 86, dies in knife attack

AN ELDERLY widow has been found stabbed to death in her home. Irene Swanwick, 86, died from multiple wounds after a "frenzied" attack, police said yesterday.

Neighbours in West Bridgford, Nottingham, raised the alarm on Thursday afternoon after Mrs Swanwick failed to keep a lunchtime appointment.

Police said they had ruled out a sexual motive, but the frail woman died in a "frenzied" attack. Detective Superintendent Colin Warburton, who is leading the murder inquiry, said: "This is a savage attack on a defenceless, elderly woman and we need to catch whoever is responsible." He appealed for anyone who was in the Priory Road area between Wednesday evening and Thursday afternoon to come forward.

A neighbour discovered the body of the woman - who they said spent her spare time helping friends - yesterday afternoon in the large detached house where she lived alone in the affluent West Bridgford suburb of Nottingham.

Her neighbour Chris Theobald said his wife Judith raised the alarm at just after 2pm yesterday, when she called round and discovered that the house had been ransacked.