A man was arrested on suspicion of murder today after the body of a pensioner was discovered.

Police were called to Blackthorn Road, in Witham, near Chelmsford, at about 1.30am this morning after paramedics found the man, 68, during an emergency call.

A spokeswoman for Essex Police said the arrested man was 42. A post-mortem will be carried out later. The man has not been named.

Police said later that the women was 73-years-old and lived in York.

She was discovered lying on the floor outside Acomb Pets Aquatics and Reptiles Centre by the shop's owner, Mark Eaton. The area is now stained with blood.

Mr Eaton, 24, said: ''I was in the garage at the back and heard a noise and then as I turned round I saw a lad running down the alley.

''I saw the women lying on the floor so I went back inside and told people to ring an ambulance and the police and then ran after him.''

He said two other members of the public later detained a man.

A local resident, who did not wish to be named, said that, although the area had problems with shoplifters, residents did not usually experience any trouble.

''For residents it's quite a quiet area. We keep ourselves to ourselves.''