​​TRIBUTES have been paid to an elderly woman whose death in her rural home on the edge of the Quantock Hills triggered a murder investigation.

She was named on Thursday as Beryl Purdy, who was in her 80s. Mrs Purdy, who was known as ‘Bez’, was described by neighbours in the quiet village of Broomfield as ‘charismatic’ and devoted to the local community.

She was a churchwarden for 20 years in the village’s St Mary’s and All Saints Church, where the rector, the Rev Dr Mary Styles said she was ‘a faithful parishioner’.

Mrs Purdy had also been a trustee of Broomfield’s village hall for 10 years and was its bookings secretary.

She died on Monday evening after police were called to a report of a ‘burglary in progress’ and found Mrs Purdy badly injured. Police officers and paramedics tried to save her but were unsuccessful and she was declared dead at the scene.

A murder investigation was launched and a man was arrested in the Broomfield area about three hours later on suspicion of killing Mrs Purdy after the police helicopter and a dog team were called in to help.

The man, who is aged in his 30s, was later sectioned under the Mental Health Act after an assessment by a mental health professional showed he was not fit to be interviewed or to be kept in police custody.

He was transferred to a secure mental health unit where he has been held under section two of the Mental Health Act.

Avon and Somerset Police also said it had self-referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) due to actions following a missing person report which had been made earlier on Monday.

A post mortem was conducted on Mrs Purdy but police said they were withholding her cause of death for ‘operational reasons’.

An IOPC spokesperson said: “We can confirm that we have received a referral from Avon and Somerset Police.

“We are now assessing the referral to determine what action may be needed by the IOPC.”

Avon and Somerset Police said the murder inquiry was continuing under the leadership of the force’s Major Crime Investigation Team (MCIT).

Neighbourhood Chief Inspector Justin French said: “Our thoughts remain with the family during this incredibly difficult time and they are being supported by specially trained family liaison officers.

“Incidents of this kind are rare and understandably can cause concern among the community.

“Our officers will be out and about conducting reassurance patrols and we encourage people to speak to them with any questions and concerns they may have.

“Detectives from MCIT continue to carry out a full and thorough investigation and the public can expect to see an increased police presence in the area, for the next few days.

“If you have any information which may help the investigation and have yet to speak to an officer, please contact 101 and quote reference 5223071427.”

See more coverage of the investigation and reaction from the village in this week's West Somerset Free Press