Georgina Edmonds' body was found by her son Harry in the cottage where she lived alone in Kiln Lane, Brambridge, Hants, at 5.45pm on Friday.

Police have no suspect or motive for the attack and more than 50 specialist officers are involved in the murder hunt.

Forensic experts were examining the house, Fig Tree Cottage, which is in the grounds of her only son's home, Kingfisher Lodge. They were also checking to see if anything was stolen.

Officers conducting house-to-house inquiries interviewed residents of nearby Elderfield House in Kiln Lane, a hostel for ex-offenders run by Christian charity The Langley House Trust, on Friday evening.

Police said no-one from Elderfield House was being treated as a suspect and Detective Chief Inspector Paul Barton said: "All residents at Elderfield House are accounted for."

He added: "At the moment there is no sign of forced entry.

"However, Mrs Edmonds was of a generation who would leave her house unlocked. It would be normal that the house was unlocked if she was at home."

The widow was last seen alive on Friday morning. Mr Edmonds and a family friend found her body after he checked on her after work.

A post-mortem examination showed that she died of extensive head injuries but Mr Barton said she also had a number of other injuries.