Pensioner held over mystery death of woman, 80

The 70-year-old man was bailed by police last night as the investigation into the death of the woman, named locally as Jean Metcalfe, of Rose Cottage, Castle Terrace, Richmond, continues.

Mrs Metcalfe, a widowed mother-of-two, was pronounced dead at Darlington Memorial Hospital on Wednesday afternoon.

Police, who describe the incident as "unexplained and sudden", have sealed off her home. A post-mortem examination was carried out yesterday but no further details have been released.

Mrs Metcalfe's death has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community. Karen Dade, a barmaid at the Black Lion Hotel, where Mrs Metcalfe was a regular, said: "She was a proper Richmond lady, always very tidily dressed and everybody knew her in the town.

"It is a real shock. She was a polite and very nice woman.

Taxi driver Trevor Bagley, a close friend of Mrs Metcalfe's for 30 years and who regularly drove her around town, said: "The first I heard of it was Wednesday morning and when the police came round I didn't know what to think.

"She was a very nice lady. I knew her and her family well and it is a tragedy she is dead."

Yesterday forensic officers were combing Mrs Metcalfe's cottage, which is in the shadow of Richmond Castle, and are expected to resume their inquiries today.

Her sons, Charles and Robert, have travelled to the town from their homes in London and Wales.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Richmond CID on 0845 60 60 24 7.