The woman found dead at her home prompting a murder investigation has been named as a 55-year-old mother.

Lesley Spearing suffered fatal injuries at the property in Oast View Terrace, off Mierscourt Road, Rainham.

Police arrived at the house at 8.30pm on Thursday.

A man, aged in his 20s and known to Ms Spearing, was arrested nearby and has now been charged.

This morning a bouquet of flowers rested against the front door of the house, while next door neighbours brought cups of tea to two police officers stationed outside.

The owner of the Chocolate Box newsagent in the High Street said he did not know the lady personally other than she would "pop in for a pint of milk once or twice a week".

After being told about a heavy police presence manager of the United Services Club, in Rainham High Street, Jamie Mackie went to his workplace which looks on to the crime scene.

Speaking yesterday the 22-year-old, who has always lived in Rainham, said: "I had a call from my members of staff at about 9pm saying there were loads of police sirens opposite my work.

"I ended up coming in and finding out there was blood on the lampposts outside.

"I think there were two covered in blood.

"I walked down, I think there were four police cars and about five ambulances all around the bottom of Mierscourt bus stop and outside United Services Club.

"It's a bit nerve-wracking, I've never seen anything like this around Rainham before."

The club has given its CCTV to police to review for evidence.

Police remain at the new-build end-of-terrace house throughout Friday.

A window of the house is smashed.

Neighbour Rachael Jones, a 27-year-old mum-of-two, said this morning: "I only moved in a couple of months ago. It's a nice road. All I know is a woman lived there."

Peter Gardiner, 65, who has lived in Mierscourt Road for 30 years, said: "I've never seen anything like it, all of a sudden at about 8.30pm, I could hear sirens.

"During the night there were four to five ambulances, a critical care car and four police cars. And then forensics arrived and they were here from 4am-5am."

Deborah Weekes, 53, who lives in nearby Solomon Road, said: "I saw the air ambulance land in the field opposite. I then saw paramedics running off with their bags.

"Some said they went towards Scott Avenue. It's all very sad."

Manager of nearby Dreams hair and beauty salon, Nikki Cooper said: "It's a really nice friendly area, everyone know everyone

"I didn't know them personally its such a tragic thing everyone gets on in Rainham.

"It is such a shock because you don't really expect these things to happen, especially on your doorstep as well."

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