AN 82-year-old widow has been found dead at her home following a violent attack.

Police have launched a murder inquiry following the discovery of the pensioner in Pocklington yesterday morning.

They have identified the victim as Ivy Torrie, of The Oval.

A 43-year-old man has been arrested.

The body was discovered by police at 8.30am.

Officers were called after witnesses reported a man acting suspiciously in a Peugeot car in the Market Weighton area.

The keeper of the vehicle was traced to the address in Pocklington, and when officers attended the house they discovered the body of Mrs Torrie.

Police then started looking for the car and driver.

The vehicle was stopped on the B1228, near Howden.

The driver, a 43-year-old man, was taken to Goole Police Station in connection with the inquiry.

The body was removed for a post-mortem examination, carried out by a Home Office pathologist.

It found that Mrs Torrie died as a result of a violent attack.

Mrs Torrie had three grown-up children and was a grandmother.

Neighbours said she shared her home with her son, Michael.

The area around the home, a council-owned bungalow set back from the road in a small cul-de-sac, was cordoned off.

"When I saw them cordoning the area off I thought it was something particularly bad," said near neighbour Hilda Terry.

""It's come as a real shock to us all. We are such a quiet little place here, it really has knocked us all for six."

"It's all very sad, Mrs Torrie was such a nice little lady."

Updated: 10:46 Monday, September 15, 2003