VILLAGERS will meet tonight to discuss the murder of a pensioner.

Otterbourne Parish Council has called an extraordinary meeting and leafleted some 600 homes in the village near Eastleigh.

It comes in the wake of the murder of Georgina Edmonds, 77, who was battered to death in her home in Kiln Lane, Brambridge, on January 11.

Widespread public fears have been voiced after four residents of the Elderfield ex-offenders' hostel were arrested by detectives. They have all been released with one on police bail until February 18.

The hostel on Main Road, Otterbourne, was the home of Anthony Rice who murdered Winchester woman Naomi Bryant in 2005. There have been calls for it to be closed.

Richard Oldham, chairman of Otterbourne parish Council, said today: "We are aware there is a lot of concern about security and Elderfield so we have called this meeting and done a leaflet drop.

"The meeting is for people to come along and give their views. It is a not a decision-making body."

Senior police officers and managers from the Langley House Trust that runs the 21-bed Elderfield have been invited.

Steve Brine, prospective Conservative candidate for Winchester, said today: "Clearly there is an ongoing police investigation, but the safety of local people must remain the central issue.

"If any Elderfield residents are found to be responsible for this horrific murder, it will break any bond of trust that remains with the local people and put us in a situation where the risks of this facility to the wider community outweigh its benefit.

"Elderfield remains in our community because of the goodwill of local residents, if that goes its continued presence would be extremely difficult."