AN 82-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 92-year-old woman was found dead at the residential home they shared in a quiet Devon village.

Both were residents at the Hyne Town House in the South Hams village of Strete, near Dartmouth.

The woman had lived at the home for five years while the man had moved in more recently. They were not husband and wife.

Police said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the death, which they described as "suspicious". Senior investigating officer Det Supt Steve Carey said: "Inquiries are at a very early stage and we are keen to work with the home and the residents.

"This is an isolated incident and is not thought to involve any other resident or anyone else in connection with the home."

The alarm was raised at about 10.30pm on Wednesday at the home, which currently houses 26 residents.

Paramedics, who were summoned to the home after the woman was found, alerted police who arrived shortly afterwards.

Attempts were made to resuscitate the woman but they were unsuccessful.

The 82-year-old man was arrested and taken to Torquay police station where he was yesterday questioned by officers.

The home, a Georgian former vicarage, is behind the parish church in the village, between Dartmouth and Kingsbridge.

A police spokesman said: "We have someone in custody and there will be a full investigation.

"Inquiries are at a very early stage and until forensics have been carried out, we can't establish any motive or reason for this death."

Yesterday afternoon, the home's owner, Steven Mauld, released a statement which read: "This tragedy has had a profound impact on us all.

"Staff, residents and their families alike are deeply upset by what has happened.

"Our grief at the loss of one of our residents, who has been with us for over five years, is immeasurable.

"Our deepest sympathy goes out to her son, with whom we have built a close relationship over the years.

"Hyne Town House is a family-run residential care home and the welfare of our residents is paramount.

"This extends to our own parents who also reside with us.

"We would emphasise this was an isolated incident and we can confirm that no other residents were in involved in any way.

"We are, of course, co-operating fully with the police investigation currently under way and would ask the media to respect the privacy and amenity of our other residents."

A post-mortem examination is expected to be carried out today.

The village of Strete was at the centre of a murder investigation four years ago.

Eighty-six-year-old Irene Powell was killed by her 87-year-old husband Herbert at their home in Hyne Town.

Mr Powell was later convicted of manslaughter and allowed to return home.