Police cordon off area in Hardingham in connection with Toftwood murder inquiry

Boyd Avenue in Toftwood, where the body of a man in his 60s was discovered. Picture: Archant (Image: Archant)

Police have cordoned off an area beside a quiet country lane in Hardingham, near Dereham, in connection with a murder investigation in Toftwood.

A blue tent and police tape is today at the spot off Church Road with a police officer at the scene.

A spokesman for Norfolk Police said the Hardingham scene was connected to a major inquiry into the suspected murder in Boyd Avenue.

Police were called to the Toftwood bungalow at just after 3.20pm yesterday and a man is due to be questioned today after being arrested on suspicion of murder.

Boyd Avenue in Toftwood, where the body of a man in his 60s was discovered. Picture: Archant (Image: Archant)

They were called following concerns from a member of the public about a man living there.

On arrival officers gained entry to the property where they found a man, aged in his 60s, had died.

The victim has not yet been identified.

Neighbours described him as a quiet man who kept himself to himself.

The bungalow where the man was found dead remains sealed off by police tape today and officers are still at the scene.

It is tucked away in the far corner of the Boyd Avenue estate, which is off School Lane.

The area remained quiet this morning and the few people out walking dogs or heading to work were shocked by the news.

One resident said: 'I've just read about it in the paper and it so awful.'

Another added: 'I can't believe it. It's so tragic.'

The Boyd Avenue estate was built in the 1960s and is a mix of bungalows and houses.

The area has been described by residents as a friendly and quiet neighbourhood with very little crime.

One resident said: 'It's ever so quiet here usually.

'You couldn't get a nicer place to live.'

Police have said the incident is not currently being linked to the death of another man, named locally as Stuart Yates, whose body was found in a flat in Boundary Close, Dereham, on Friday.

The death of Mr Yates is currently being treated as unexplained after a post mortem examination held on Saturday proved inconclusive.

Following the discovery of the man's body in Toftwood, temporary Detective Chief Inspector Andy Guy, from Norfolk and Suffolk's Major Investigation Team (MIT), said: 'A major enquiry into the circumstances is underway. We are doing all that we can to ensure a thorough investigation uncovers the events that led to this man's death.

'We have arrested a man in his 40s from the Dereham area in connection with this incident and he is currently in police custody awaiting questioning. 'Forensically trained officers continue to examine the scene and a police presence remains in place.'

• Anyone with information should contact Norfolk Constabulary on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or through their Anonymous Online Form at http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org/