- Victim named as Albertina Choules, known as Tina by neighbours
- She was killed almost instantly in a horrific attack yesterday morning
- After she rang 999 the intruder 'dragged her outside and set her alight'
- The suspect also attacked police officer with a machete before his arrest
- Widow's home is without electricity and passion was immaculate garden
- Locals said the 'woman in the woods' was 'lovely lady liked by everyone'
Albertina Choules, 81, was killed yesterday morning and the suspect, 23, who may have been living rough in a tent in woods surrounding the house, has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
In a horrific attack that has shocked villagers in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, the alleged killer also attacked a police officer with a machete.
Today her niece said for 45 years her aunt had lived in the same property, described as a 'Hansel and Gretel cottage', without electricity and using gas lanterns for light and burning wood for heating.
The isolated house is owned by the family of Lord Carrington, 97, the last surviving member of the Churchill government and father of the House of Lords.
After the death of her husband Michael from cancer in 2004 she stayed in her isolated property, surrounded by a dense forest, leading to people locally calling her 'the woman in the woods'.
Victim: Albertina Choules, 81, pictured at home, died yesterday morning and a suspect, 23, has been arrested on suspicion of murder
Shocking: Albertina Choules dialled 999 when she saw the intruder, who is believed to have dragged her outside and set her on fire - he may have been living in the woods around her house
Isolated: Mrs Choules' home (circled) sits at the end of a winding lane and is surrounded by dense woodland
Armed police and the force helicopter rushed to the scene, before the 23-year-old suspect attacked a police officer with a machete. The officer was sent to hospital and has now been discharged
The trees around her home contain Buddhist monuments she made herself and her only companion, her dog, is being cared for elsewhere after escaping injury in the attack.
Her niece, her only relative in Britain, said she was 'completely unafraid of being in such an isolated spot'.
Italian-born Mrs Choules' real name is Albertine Luigia but she was known locally as Tina after coming to live in Britain when she met her husband Michael, who died from cancer 12 years ago.
Neighbours described her as 'a lovely lady who was liked by everyone' and talked of their shock that someone could be killed in such a brutal way in what is one of Britain's most wealthy areas.
Roger Harmon, who worked with Mrs Choules' late husband Michael more than 20 years ago, described her as 'delightful' and 'a stoic woman'.
Rona Hyde told the BBC: 'As a community we are devastated knowing what a good person she was open and friendly.
'She was a soulful lady, very spiritual and would make Buddhist stoopers (monuments) in the woods.'
Lord Carrington's son, Rupert, who owns Mrs Choule's home and last saw her just a week ago, told the Mail he was absolutely devastated by the widow's murder.
He said: 'She was such a polite lady. It is the most tragic, awful thing to have happened.
'Everybody here is completely astonished by this. I only saw her last week and she was her normal self. Always polite and happy. We sat in the garden and had a chat.
'It was almost like a Hansel and Gretel cottage. She was very fit for her age. She was still using a chainsaw until recently.
'Her great passion was gardening. She had the most beautiful garden over there in the wood. It was her great love and I can't take any credit for it.
'We did sometimes worry because she lived alone and the cottage is a long way away from anyone else. But she seemed like quite a private person.
'She was no trouble as a tenant whatsoever and never complained, but you wouldn't have been in a cottage like that if you didn't want to be solitary.
'I think she was in the wrong place at the wrong time.'
Mrs Choules is said to have complained about vagrants setting up camp in woodland surrounding her grand home.
The victim dialled 999 at 6.30am when she found an intruder in her house early on Wednesday morning.
It has been suggested he then dragged her outside and set her on fire, suffering fatal injuries.
Upset: Neighbours have named the victim as Albertina Choules, known locally as Tina, who lived alone in Marlow Bottom, Buckinghamshire
Probe: One theory suggests that she may have been trying to flee after the blaze was started by the suspect, but only made it as far as the front lawn
Some have claimed that she may have been trying to flee after the blaze was started inside the house, but only made it as far as the front lawn.
However, Emma Drewett, the gamekeeper who looked after the Choules' grounds, said she was not aware of anybody living in the nearby woods.
Mrs Drewett said: 'The house she lived in is actually owned by our boss, it is owned by the Carrington Estate.
'She has lived in there for years with her husband up until he died a few years ago.
'She owned some of the woods next to the house but she didn't own the house.
'It's a nice house and it's fairly big, I think it's two up and two down.
'We had shooting rights in the woodland nearby so she used to let us in. Her dog would always come bounding over whenever we were there.
'It is all a bit of a shock.
'People have been saying about a man in the woods which we were completely unaware of.
'There was a chap that we were aware of who was living in the woods but that was a couple of years ago.
'He lived in a green tent but when we went up there it looked like it had been abandoned.
'If we had been aware there was another man living in the woods he would have been cleared off.'
Police rushed to the home in the picturesque hamlet of five houses in Marlow Bottom, near the village of Marlow, before the intruder attacked an officer with a machete and fled into nearby woodland.
The area, close to the Thames, is one of the wealthiest places in the country.
Former England cricket captain Andrew Strauss and Britain's greatest Olympian Sir Steve Redgrave also lives in the Marlow area. Former residents include Heston Blumenthal and Robbie Williams.
Marlow is also home to high-end shops, hotels and restaurants, including The Hand and Flowers run by star chef Tom Kerridge.
Investigation: Police are guarding an area in woodland and fields surrounded Mrs Choules' isolated home
Thames Valley Police have not confirmed the exact circumstances of the death, describing the situation as still in its early stages.
The force helicopter and armed police launched a search for the suspect, which ended quickly when the man was found near a makeshift tent where it is believed he may have been living rough.
A police spokesperson said: 'We launched a murder investigation after a woman's body was found in Marlow. Officers were called to a property in Ragmans Lane just after 6.30am today (Wednesday).
'When officers arrived they were confronted by a man. He assaulted a police officer, who was taken to hospital and has since been discharged.
'A woman was found at the scene and she was sadly pronounced dead.
Tragedy: Police cover the body of an 81-year-old widow on the front lawn of her home after she was set alight in a brutal murder
'Officers have put in place a scene watch at the property as well as at nearby woods. A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder. He is currently in police custody.'
A murder inquiry, led by Detective Chief Inspector Mike Lynch from the Major Crime Team, has now been launched and a cordon thrown around the houses nearby in Ragmans Lane.
The residents of the remaining four houses in the hamlet were awoken early in the morning to be warned a dangerous suspect was still at large, before being told of his swift arrest.
When police arrived at Mrs Choules' home they found her lying on the lawn outside the house and immediately called for the fire brigade.
It was obvious that she had been set on fire and had died, sources say.
One theory suggests she ran outside after the fire started, another claims her body was dragged to the lawn.
A spokesman for the Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that crews were sent to the house in Marlow Bottom after an emergency call from the police.
'We arrived at the scene but were not required to do anything in the end,' said the spokesman.
A Home Office pathologist was called to Mrs Choules' home and carried out an initial post mortem examination on her body at the scene as the police started their investigation into the killing.
The murder scene is very isolated and Mrs Choules was believed to have lived there for more than 20 years. Her husband Michael, a costume jewellery director, died aged 65 in 2004 and his widow is believed to have lived alone at the house, set in large gardens, ever since.
Residents of the nearby upmarket town of Marlow were quick to express their shock at hearing of the news of the murder.
Carol Lutteman said: 'Sadly it's the lady who lives in the woods, Tina. It is so very sad.'
Another resident, Kerry Grant, said: 'She was a lovely lady with such a kind soul. RIP X.'
She added that she had seen as many as six police cars and three vans racing towards the crime scene at around 7.30am Wednesday morning.
Sealed off: Forensics tents are dotted all over the large plot surround the cottage said to be worth in excess of £2million
Probe: Police say their investigation is at an early stage but they have arrested a 23-year-old man who also attacked a police officer with a machete
The remote Ragmans Lane near the property was completely cordoned off to traffic Wednesday morning, as a police helicopter was scrambled as part of the search for the murder suspect.
The single track road was eventually re-opened to traffic in the afternoon, but another narrow lane leading off to Mrs Choules' remote cottage was by Wednesday night still sealed off and under police surveillance as forensics examiners combed the area for clues.
A Harvester pub sits at the top of Ragmans Lane and staff were rocked by the heavy police presence that greeted them as they arrived this morning to start their shift.
One woman member of staff said: 'There were loads of police cars when I arrived, and a helicopter flying overhead.
'I didn't know anything about what had happened, but there was all this commotion when I arrived.
'Nobody has really said much about it - no one knows what's happened.'
An elderly man at the pub added: 'I don't know what's happened - I'm so confused.'
Deputy Commander for High Wycombe Local Policing Area, Chief Inspector Rebecca Mears said: 'Members of the public will see an increased police presence in the area and a number of roads have been closed while we conduct our inquiries.
'I have this morning been to Stoke Mandeville Hospital where our injured officer was taken. He has since been discharged from hospital.'
More shocked villagers said they awoke to see hamlet 'awash with police and the fire service.'
One said: 'I left for the school run this morning and there was a fire engine and a police car blocking the road. I went down to Marlow Bottom and by the time I got back from the school run, there were lots of police cars, and ambulance and a black car.
'My husband rang me and told me somebody has been murdered. 'There is a two-storey house and opposite that is a converted barn.
Wealthy: Marlow (file picture) sits on the Thames and is one of the wealthiest areas outside the capital with an array of mansions and high-end hotels and restaurants
'When I heard about it I thought 'gosh that's terrible'. It is so remote here my husband worries about us being in the countryside.
'You don't expect this kind of thing around here because it is a lovely area. Marlow Bottom is a beautiful village so it is shocking.'
Family friend Mr Harmon - who lives in Stockbridge, Hampshire, but spoke while on holiday in Spain, recalled visiting Mr and Mrs Choules at their home.
'I went to see them because Michael had had both his legs broken when their rather boisterous Red Setter dogs barged into him,' he said.
'We only worked together for a short time - he arrange the finance for large corporate items,' he said.
He added: 'She was an absolutely delightful person and I would estimate, had quite a bit of influence over her husband.'
The murder happened just nine miles from the scene of the unsolved murder 21 years ago of nurse Janet Brown, who was killed in her home by intruders and found the next day by builders who arrived to carry out work.
Despite a fresh appeal to try to trace the killer of Mrs Brown in Radnage, Buckinghamshire, last year, the case remains unsolved.
Detective Ward confirmed Wednesday's investigation was still in its early stages. He said: 'I would like to appeal for anyone who thinks they might have any information about this incident to get in touch with us by calling the non-emergency number 101.
'If you do not want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.'
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