Neighbours, friends and work colleagues of an Oswestry woman who was found murdered today spoke of their “complete shock” at her death.

Police have not formally identified the woman but she was named locally as Jill Nevitt, a shopworker at Oswestry’s town centre Poundstretchers store.

Her body was found at her home in Orchard Street in Oswestry yesterday and police have launched a murder investigation.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and police confirmed he remained in custody awaiting interview today.

A spokeswoman for Poundstretchers in Oswestry said: “We are all in bits about this. You just can’t get your head around it.

“We all loved her so much and she will be really missed.

“Everybody is in complete shock. She was with us for about 14 months and was so well liked. She was a lovely person.”

Two police patrol cars were in Orchard Street this morning, which is normally a quiet town centre side street.

The white scene-of-crime tent remained in the front garden of the house, partially obscuring Christmas decorations which have been put up on the front of the property.

Unusual

The police activity was “very unusual” for the area, according to businessman Kev Battam, from Battam Butchers.

Mr Battam said: “It is a real shock because normally that road is a small, quiet road.

“Nobody seems to know what has happened at the moment but I know the couple who are said to have been involved.

“I knew them by sight. They would come in here now and again. They seemed nice enough. It is a real shock. When you see the white tent going up it always comes as a shock.”

A neighbour in Orchard Street said she was totally shocked.

The resident, who preferred not to be named, said: “This has come as a huge shock. Nobody knows what has happened but the police have been here since yesterday evening.”

Police said they were called to the address in Orchard Street just after 7pm yesterday following reports of a serious incident.

A post mortem examination was due to be carried out by a Home Office pathologist later today.

By Iain St John