Horrified neighbours mourned the "absolutely disgusting" murder of a "very pleasant" widow battered to death in her own home.

The body of Dorothy Woolmer, 89, was found when paramedics were called to her Tottenham home on Sunday morning.

The former housewife and keen gardener lived in a two-storey terraced home in Waltheof Gardens with her husband Ken Woolmer, a former Royal Navy engineer, for more than 60 years. Ken died a few years ago, according to neighbours.

Former RAF conscript John George, 91, who lived near Dorothy, said: "I couldn't wish for a better neighbour.

"She used to trim her hedges and tidy her garden. I used to say, 'Alright, gardener!'

"She was a very pleasant lady; and Ken was a most helpful man, any time of the day.

"They were just good neighbours from ex serviceman to another ex serviceman, he was just a nice guy."

He added: "It's an absolutely disgusting attack on a 89-year-old.

"You think we are all safe, but then something like this happens.

"We don't often see a policeman.

"We only had a break in two weeks ago and they stole a television and laptop.

"I don't know if they are going around sussing everybody out."

Another of Mrs Woolmer's neighbours, Annie Le, 28, described the elderly woman as "quite frail" and said she used a zimmer frame.

Father of one Sayed Hussain, 40, lives two doors from Mrs Woolmer's home.

Accounts manager Mr Hussain said: "I have only two words - not human.

"No human can think like that.

"I've not a single word to explain my sorrow."

He added: "Secondly, I don't understand why, to our senior citizens? They are exceptional.

"Most of them on this road are senior citizens; all of them are very good.

"It's really terrible, it shouldn't happen."