Police found the body of a woman in a flat in Jockey Mead, in Horsham's Needles Estate on Saturday night (March 22).

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

The victim is believed to be well-loved elderly Horsham resident Rhona Heywood.

Horsham schoolboy Ricky Butler, 15, died in hospital in November 2007 after he sustained serious head injuries in an incident outside a Hallowe'en party.

Police are not linking the two suspected murders.

But Sheila Dale, Horsham district councillor for the Denne Ward, where the latest incident took place, said she was very concerned that there had been two suspected murders in the town in recent months.

She said: "It's a dreadful thing to happen.

"I didn't know this lady.

"But my heart goes out to her family."

David Sheldon, a fellow Horsham District Council Liberal Democrat and councillor for the Denne ward, said he hoped that this was an isolated incident and that it would not lead to any further violence.

He said: "I knew something was going on as we saw the ambulances and police cars as we walked home from friends on Saturday night.

"But I didn't find out what exactly until Sunday morning.

"Obviously details are still very sketchy at the moment and so we really don't know what happened but if this lady was murdered as suspected then my first thought is for her family who will no doubt be extremely upset to lose a relative in this way.

"Her death will also come as a shock to her friends and the local community and I hope that this is an isolated incident and will not lead to any further violence.

"I hope too that the police will quickly be able to uncover what actually happened."

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