POLICE have launched a murder investigation following the death of a woman in Belper.
Officers were called to a house on Short Row at around 11pm on Tuesday night, where a body was found.
A 37-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
Officers remained at the scene on Short Row all day yesterday and the street was cordoned off, as well as part of George Street and other surrounding roads.
The police scientific support team and other force vehicles were there and the cordon was widened later in the morning.
A Home Office pathologist carried out a post-mortem examination on the woman, who is believed to be in her late 60s, but has not been named by police.
The results of the examination are yet to be released.
People living close to the scene have expressed their shock and officials have also sent sympathy to the family and friends of the dead woman.
Jenny Ditchfield, 35, of nearby Acorn Drive, said: "It's scary to have something like this happen on my doorstep.
"We do the school run past here every day.
"It's a nice area, I've lived here most of my life."
Another neighbour said: "I didn't hear anything, which surprises me because I was up until 2am working on my university project.
"My wife texted me this morning to tell me that the car was in a blocked area."
Derby Telegraph deputy news editor Jade Beecroft, 31, of Mill Street, lives near the Short Row property.
She said: "It is usually a very quiet area but I did hear some noises on Tuesday evening; dogs barking and people moving around.
"But I didn't think much of it until I woke up this morning and saw the police cordon.
"It's a really nice place to live and feels very safe.
"People are friendly and say hello to each other in the street, so it's quite shocking to find that the neighbourhood is now at the centre of a murder investigation."
Samantha Acons, 41, of Cluster Court, is another near neighbour.
She said: "I found out there had been police in the area from Facebook.
"It's really scary and frightening because you don't expect that to happen in Belper.
"I had to pick up my son from St John's School up the street from here and it's not far away.
"That makes it much worse for me."
Edna Williams, 59, of George Street, said: "I was in bed at the time she was found so that is frightening."
Laura McCartney, 33, lives just two doors down from the home in which the body was found.
She said she rushed to the scene after friends called her asking if she was safe.
She said: "I feel totally sick that this has happened just two doors away from me.
"It's the last thing you expect to happen here."
Alison Fradley, 30, of Long Row, was stunned to see a police presence in the area.
She said: "I didn't hear or see anything last night.
"It's unbelievable to think that was going on though."
Frederick and Marilyn Wathall, of Green Lane, live across the road from the scene.
Mrs Wathall, 65, said: "I was upstairs at about 11pm when I saw a lot of blue flashing lights at Field Lane.
"I thought to myself, 'What's going off here?'
"I went to bed not long after and when I woke up the next morning I saw the police on the street.
"I thought they must be connected."
Mr Wathall, also 65, said: "What's happened is a big tragedy. I can't believe it.
"It's a big shock to us both."
Roy Booth, 69, said he also saw police lights in the area.
He said: "I've had to go the long way around to get to my building job today because of the cordons.
"When I saw all of the lights last night my first thought was there had been an accident.
"It has been a big shock to find out it could have been a murder. It is very sad."
A police spokesman said: "Officers were called to Short Row at around 11pm.
"The body of a woman was discovered at the address.
"Officers remain at the scene and inquiries are continuing."
Anybody with any information should call the police on 101.
MP AND COUNCILLORS 'DISTURBED' AT TOWN EVENTSMID Derbyshire MP Pauline Latham expressed her concern that a murder investigation was taking place in Belper.
She said: "It is very disturbing news.
"I'm really quite shocked as Belper is such a good community, generally.
"It is terrible this has happened in the run-up to Christmas. I think everyone in the area will be terribly shocked.
"My thoughts go out to those involved."
Councillor John Nelson, of Wilmot Road, represents the town on Amber Valley Borough Council and is the current Mayor of the district. He said: "It is absolutely shocking news, I cannot remember when there was last a murder investigation in Belper.
"The town has its share of minor troubles like any other town, but incidents like this simply do not happen in Belper.
"I dropped my grandchildren off at school yesterday morning and I wondered why there was a traffic jam in the area.
"This awful news explains that and my thoughts go to the family and friends of the woman who died."
Councillor Peter Makin represents Belper on Derbyshire County Council and Amber Valley Borough Council.
He said: "It is very sad news and my thoughts are with the family of the woman who has died."
Andrea Fox runs the Drop Inn, a chill-out zone for young people in Belper to meet friends and have fun.
She said: "It is shocking. Everybody in the town has been talking about it.
"My thoughts go out to the family and friends of the woman that has died.
"It is never a good time for something like this to happen but just two weeks before Christmas is awful.
"A little town like Belper has a few issues with anti-social behaviour but never anything as serious as murder."
