FORMER criminals are to be questioned as part of the investigation into the murder of a 77-year-old woman in Hampshire.

The pensioner's body was found in a home in Kiln Lane, Brambridge, at 5.45pm yesterday.

It is thought that she had been stabbed repeatedly in the chest.

Officers are to question residents of nearby Elderfield house on Kiln Lane, a hostel for ex-offenders run by Christian charity The Langley House Trust.

Serial sex attacker Anthony Rice was released on life licence to Elderfield and was living there when he killed Naomi Bryant in August 2005.

Rice stabbed the 40-year-old mother nine months after being freed from jail for sex attacks.

He was jailed for a minimum of 25 years for her murder in October 2005.

Residents at the hostel have their own keys and are not checked at night.

A police spokeswoman said: "As part of our investigation we will be doing house to house inquiries at Elderfield house as well. Not because we suspect anyone there but because they are in the immediate area.

"We have no reason to suspect at this time anyone from Elderfield is responsible.

"We have no one arrested and no suspects."

The spokeswoman added that the pensioner lived alone in the house and had a grown-up son who lives nearby.

Her next-of-kin have been informed and a post-mortem examination is due to take place later today.

She said: "Until that time I am unable to clarify how the lady has died due to the nature of her injuries.

"Something has happened to her to make us believe it's a murder. She had some injuries which were not consistent with her falling.

"We don't know if she has been attacked or what has happened."

The pensioner was seen yesterday but police are waiting for the post-mortem to establish exactly when she died.

Kathleen Sheridan, who owns nearby pub The Otter, said: "The police contacted us last night to check if we had CCTV but we don't.

"It's not pleasant to have something like this happen. It's horrible for the family more than anything else."

Police also contacted The Old Forge pub in Otterbourne last night to ask if they had seen anything suspicious as part of house to house inquiries, a staff member said.