Peacehaven residents' shock at woman's death and murder probe

Neighbours saw ambulances and police cars arrive at a house in Skylark Avenue in Peacehaven at around 4pm on Monday.

Emergency services were called to a woman in medical distress but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

A 40-year-old man, who was known to the woman, was arrested on suspicion of murder and administering a noxious substance. He remains in custody. 

A young family who live nearby said: “We moved in in August so we have only been here six months. It’s horrible.

Forensic teams at the scene this morning (Image: Sussex News and Picture)

“But detectives did say there was no wider threat to the public and we shouldn’t be worried.

“As horrible as it is, it can happen anywhere. It’s still a new estate and we are a young family. Having something like that happen, it’s horrible. It’s a shame that somebody died, it’s awful.

“People in white suits went in and police came in to ours to ask if we saw or heard anything but they didn’t say what. We didn’t hear anything.

“There was nothing on our Ring doorbell. We don’t know the people and have no idea.”

Workmen in the area said ambulances arrive at the house shortly followed by police.

One worker said: "We were just working nearby and all of a sudden saw a load of ambulances turn up.

"Apart from that we didn't see or hear anything.

Forensics teams were at the scene on Monday night and Tuesday (Image: Sussex News and Pictures)

"Everyone turned up at around 4pm but there were no sirens, everything was quiet and it was all calm.

"We were just confused about what was going on."

Forensics teams were at the scene on Monday evening and all day on Tuesday.

A worker in the Good Companions pub a few minutes' walk from the scene said: “I didn’t hear about the incident. No one said about it in the pub last night.

"Most of the town is all right, it’s quite a family area."