HAMPSHIRE police have launched a murder hunt following the discovery of an elderly woman's body.

Police were called to a house in Brambridge, near Eastleigh, shortly before 6pm yesterday following reports that a 77-year-old woman had been stabbed to death.

They immediately cordoned off the property and began house to house enquiries at the scene in Kiln Road, which links Brambridge to Otterbourne.

Scenes of crime officers were carrying out a fingertip search and a post mortem into the cause of her death is being carried out over the week-end.

Some 30 police officers are involved in the hunt for a killer in an operation codenamed Columbian.

The investigation is being headed by Detective Superintendent Shirley Dinnell.

She told the Daily Echo: "This sort of crime is rare in Hampshire especially in rural areas. We need to find who is responsible for this murder as quickly as possible and we are asking for anyone who say anything suspicious to contact us as soon as possible to contact us."

Pamela Moreland, who lives in Kiln Lane, said she did not know the pensioner and added: "We were visited by the police last night. We're very shocked and sorry for the family involved."

Councillor Richard Oldham, chairman of Otterbourne Parish Council, said it was "most unusual" for this type of incident to happen in the very quiet rural Hampshire village.

"The local community are going to be shocked by it," he added.

"It's a fairly small community, a very pleasant place to live, a very peaceful community with a history of not a lot happening.

"It's not the place you would normally expect this type of incident to happen."

He added: "It's a tremendous loss to her family. The sympathy of the village will go out to her because many people in the village will undoubtedly have known her. It's a fairly close knit community."

The Rural Dean of Winchester, the Rev Alan Gordon, said: "We will be remembering the parish in our prayers tomorrow and those affected by this tragedy.

"We will be in touch with the parish representatives to convey our sympathies."

Anyone with information is being asked to contact police on 0845 045 4545 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."